Volume 4 Chapter 68 The Visit of the Bull ③
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”What do you mean by that?”
Scipio’s brows knit together sharply as Medea approached from behind him, her heels whispering against the polished floor.
”Your Eminence… what exactly did you and General Asterios talk about?” she asked, her voice like cool water over stone.
”About support for the Kingdom of Crete, of course. What else?” Homolka said, giving a light pat on the back of the armor that Kian was wearing.
Scipio and Medea both went rigid, color draining from their faces. If it had been the real Asterios in there, they could already picture what would’ve happened—like him slapping Homolka’s hand away with a sharp “Don’t touch me so casually!”—but nothing like that happened. Kian stayed perfectly still, as straight and unmoving as a statue.
”At the moment the Church can’t openly support you,” Homolka went on, as if nothing were odd. “But we can lend you two Inquisitors—’Mist Eater’ and ‘Sick Cat.’ Their vassal Knights will accompany them. If enemy assassins slip into Water Island, they’ll wipe them out on their own judgment, and if it comes to a battle on the mainland, they’ll help build barriers and attack enemy fleets as needed.”
”They’ll follow your orders on things that might otherwise be troublesome—like not storming the castle or piercing straight into Cyclops Island—but in principle they act independently. If you’re fine with that, you may accept them as my subordinates.”
”Lord ‘Shield of God’… are you telling us to tolerate an independent unit inside our own country?” Scipio said tightly. “If you want to support us, then they must follow my orders.”
”Then you don’t need the Inquisitors?” Homolka tilted his head. “General Asterios negotiated this support for you.”
”I don’t want them,” Scipio said coldly. “If we house armed forces who won’t listen, they’ll only cause trouble. If the Church wants to aid us, they must obey my command. Lorf ‘Shield of God’, tell your people that.”
”They won’t listen even if I do,” said the golden-haired man mildly.
”…Aren’t you their captain?”
”I am,” the noble admitted with a graceful shrug, “but all my subordinates are mad dogs. The moment they sniff out heresy, they drool and attack. It’s the cost of selecting for combat ability. Embarrassing, really.”
”…………”
Scipio staggered back a half-step, as if dizzy. To be fair, both the ‘Burier of the Cursed’ and ‘Sick Cat’ looked completely unapproachable, and it was common knowledge across East and West that every Inquisitor was insane.
Which meant he couldn’t even argue without sounding like he was joking.
Homolka’s eyes slid toward Kian. “General Asterios, you requested reinforcements, but your commander here refuses them. What is this about?”
”Sir Scipio, please accept the support for now-nmo.”
”Respect…? Asterios is showing me respect…? No, whatever. The Church knights are one thing, but if you allow Inquisitors to roam free, who knows how much damage they’ll cause to our allies. They could run wild through the town, harming civilians and buildings alike!”
”Your Eminence,” Medea said carefully, her tone as flat and calm as marble, “may we take this matter back for discussion?”
Even she hadn’t expected Asterios to negotiate properly, judging by the way she flicked a questioning glance toward Guria. Guria gave a quick firm nod—but that probably didn’t help.
To Medea, it likely looked less like Asterios’s doing and more like some secret plan on the Church’s side. From Crete’s point of view, having Inquisitors on their side—even risky ones—would be invaluable; not just for their strength, but for the message it sent. Still, it was natural she couldn’t agree immediately.
”That’s fine,” Homolka said, “but once our business is done here, we’ll be flying to Chatillon. If you come asking for them after that, we may not be able to say yes.”
”We’ll decide before then. Thank you for your offer, Your Eminence. Lord ‘Shield of God’.”
”If Crete wins the first battle against Azrael, the Western Church will issue a formal statement condemning Azrael and call the western lords to your side. Until then we can’t offer much support, but we have appearances to keep, so I hope you understand.”
”…If we win the first battle,” Scipio muttered, pressing his fingers to his chin. “So if we deal serious damage to their main fleet—if we show that Crete has strength—then you’ll support us fully.”
”Exactly. Otherwise, we might declare support only to have your castle fall in the same instant, and the war end on the spot. Then only the Western Church, who declared war on Azrael, would be left holding the bag. It would be absurd risk.”
”Would a defensive battle count as a first battle, nmo?” Kian asked in his Asterios voice.
”That’s fine,” Homolka said, barely smothering a laugh at the sound.
(Does it really sound that silly? …Probably. This must be how normal people hear it. Still… I’m getting used to it. Which is terrifying.)
”In any case, just prove through results that your country has both the will and the power to fight. If you do, the Western Church will fully support you.”
”Understood. Then we’ll show you the results. Please look forward to it.”
Scipio gave Homolka a stiff farewell bow, and then Kian and the others left the mansion, heading out beyond the village.
* * *
When they stepped onto the high plateau, the night wind curled sharply around them. Kian turned to Scipio, the stars glinting on his armor.
”See? I told you, nmo. That was a proper negotiation.”
”That wasn’t negotiation. You just dragged out the obvious—’prove your strength and we’ll help.’”
”And the one who couldn’t even drag that much out is acting mighty smug, nmo~.”
Scipio’s temple vein twitched. But maybe he decided that arguing with Asterios would only drag him down to the same level, because he forced in a breath and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
”I didn’t fail. If we kept negotiating tomorrow, I would have gotten the same words. Whether you played at diplomacy or not, the result would be the same. Right, Medea?”
”Hmm. Hard to say. Wasn’t it the Princess who negotiated?”
”Yes. Mostly.”
”Ha. Thought so. Otherwise it’d be too weird.”
”You’re the weird one, mouthing off like that when I could crush you to death any second, nmo. Anyway, Medea—this means the Magic Contract is void now. We secured support. You were the one who rejected the Inquisitors, Scipio-nmo.”
”……”
Without a word, Medea took out the Magic Contract and burned it to ash. Scipio was clearly furious, and Medea’s gaze on Kian carried both murder and wariness. She must have realized something—maybe that this version of Asterios was far sharper than the one she’d pictured.
…Would she try an assassination?
If she did, he’d capture her and send her down the pleasure-break route. Though honestly, he hoped she wouldn’t come tonight. That kind of training took time, and he was too busy to deal with her now.
”Well then, I’m heading back for now-nmo. Next, I’ll drag a response out of the Chatillon envoys who turned you down at the door. I’ll haul their messenger all the way to Crete, just watch-nmo~.”
”You are not leaving Crete,” Scipio snapped.
”Of course not, nmo. I’m gonna stay on the island and flirt with Guria.”
”Then how will you drag out their messenger?”
Medea’s eyes narrowed behind her glasses. “You don’t have friends in Chatillon—or anywhere.”
”Ha. Of course I don’t. I’ve been locked up on Underworld Island by you royals forever-nmo. No way I’d have friends.”
”Then what are you planning? Enough. Don’t stir up more trouble. Being dragged out at this hour is bad enough—I have other things to do.”
Just then, Kian spotted four familiar silhouettes coming from the direction of Elder Gaius’s house—Rou, Aliona, Isthbaran, and Leanan Sidhe. He’d thought they were drinking, but apparently not. Except for Isthbaran, none even smelled like alcohol.
”What’s this?” Scipio muttered warily.
”Kian Merchant Guild sent an escort for us, nmo. Such good little servants~ ush-sh-sh-sh.”
The guild members exchanged greetings with Scipio and Medea, but neither of them seemed to want to share air with Asterios for even a second longer. The moment they handed Kian and Guria off to their ‘Asterios management team,’ they teleported away without a backward glance.
Medea didn’t even wave to Guria.
She probably thought Guria had been brainwashed by that insane bull and wasn’t the same person as before. Which, honestly, was fair—thinking about Guria’s mother made that obvious. Talking to a woman who’d been brainwashed by Asterios would only twist Medea’s mind into knots of anger and bloodlust. Cold as it felt, it couldn’t be helped.
”…Sorry, Kian,” Guria whispered.
”Just call me Asterios for now. No telling where ears might be,” Kian murmured under his breath.
”Ah, right… but, sorry,” Guria said, eyes soft as they darted away, “Elder Brother’s been so fired up about protecting Crete himself, but nothing’s gone right, and now the Asterios he always looked down on is actually getting results. I think… it’s eating at him inside.”
”He should be taken off the negotiation post immediately. Anyone who uses that thing is not sane.”
”E-eh? Isn’t that a bit much!?” she squeaked. “I mean, yeah, sometimes I think his social skills are… kinda catastrophic, but Elder Brother’s super elite, you know! He studied law at the Academia in Nile, and then studied abroad at the Royal Capital’s Academy. He learned politics, heraldry, all sorts of stuff, all for Crete. He speaks Western Common fluently, and he’s so responsible. I think he’s good…”
”…He graduated from two Academias? Nile’s Academia and the Royal Capital Academy? Yeah, okay. That’s a legit elite. So he really is the bookworm type, like he looks.”
”Mr. Scipio is… around forty?” Aliona asked, glancing toward where he and Medea had vanished with their teleportation.
”He’s twenty-eight, Ms. Aliona.”
”Wait, he’s younger than me!?”
Kian’s eyes widened. It was the sort of thing that happened more and more at this age—people you’d thought were older turning out to be younger. Scipio was exactly that sort.
”Hmm. Then this must be his first major post, huh? —Ah, my apologies. I am Isthbaran, Knight of Sir Kian. Here, people call me the Silver Wolf, so when others are around, please call me that.”
”I think so. Father only appointed Elder Brother as Minister of War last year,” Guria said, then gave him a small elegant bow. “Pleased to meet you, General Isthbaran. It’s an honor to meet the High Warlord of the Storm Herd~desuwa. Whoa, your hand is huge!”
”I see you’ve met Ms. Leanan Sidhe before.”
”Yes, she saved me from Mansoor once. Thank you for that. I hope we can work well together from now on, Ms. Leanan Sidhe.”
”Sure. Don’t mention it.”
”So, how did it go, Master?” Rou cut through the warm chatter like a blade. Which, fair—this windblown plateau wasn’t the place to dawdle.
”The Western Church will support us fully if Crete wins the first battle. I’ve revealed that I’m Asterios to Homolka, August, and also to the ‘Shield of God’ and ‘Mist Eater.’”
”I see. That’s very good. Then all we need is to not lose the first battle.”
”And what do you plan to do now, my lord?” Isthbaran asked, one eyebrow lifted.
”Unless Sir Scipio sends orders, I want everyone split into the Underworld Island team and the Grass Island team. Underworld Island people will set a barrier around the whole island. Grass Island people will assemble the golems and magic tools that Mrs. Camilla and Rufna sent us.”
”A barrier on Underworld Island?”
Kian nodded at Aliona. “Yes. Azrael will try to end the war quickly by striking at Crete. They have two routes—coming down from Cyclops Island, or aiming straight for Grass Island from the west.”
”Ah, right. The Sea of No Return is gone now…”
”Exactly. And Malc knows the sea current vanished. He might reroute some ships meant for Cyclops Island to come from the west instead. Before they can reach Grass Island, they’d hit the Island of the Minotaurs—Underworld Island. If they take that, they’ll have a second bridgehead. Our sugarcane business will go up in smoke. We can’t let that happen.”
His gaze swept across the group.
”I’m going to talk to Blumer and drag the Chatillon envoys to Crete. Once they come, I’ll negotiate with them. The rest of you should split into two groups and get started. —Ms. Leanan Sidhe, would that be fine?”
”No good slaves so far. If I can snatch some promising ones from the war, I’ll help.”
”They’ll be yours for the taking. Bring back as many as you like.”
”Then I’ve got no complaints.”
”The barrier is best handled by Lady Aliona and Leanan Sidhe. But there are wild minotaurs, and the waters around the island still hide unknown monsters. The magicians will need warriors guarding them.”
”Leprobus is strong. He can be our vanguard.”
”Then entrust him with it. I’ll help assemble the golems on Grass Island. Does that suit you, my lord?”
”That’s fine. Grass Island is closest to Cyclops Island. If you sense anything strange, drive it off with the Order of the Lightning Knights.”
”Ha!”
”Then I’ll go to Grass Island as well,” Rou said, glancing at Guria. “We need to assemble the golems quickly. The war’s coming… if we can get them there in time.”
”I’ll transport them with a teleportation gate!” Guria said brightly.
”But we can’t trouble the Princess with—”
”Then why were you glancing at my face just now? I thought it meant, ‘you’re free so help us move stuff.’”
”…I did think it would be helpful if you could. Then, Princess, please teleport to their side first, then return here. With the sea current gone, it should be possible now.”
”Got it. I’ll send myself, Asterios-mode Kian, and all the supplies and golems through the gate. I’ve got plenty of magic power, so leave transport to me!”
She gave a quick confident tap to her chest.
And just like that, the roles were set.
Kian heard from Rou that Blumer was waiting at the usual gambling den, so he headed there, while the others rode off on Aliona’s Man-Man toward their stations.
’Kian. Rou warned that the enemy might be planning something to remove me—from your right arm,’ Talia said as he was climbing onto Chin-Chin, which Aliona had left in Gaius’s yard for him.
(…Oh, right. I’d forgotten. I can’t imagine they could get their hands on something as rare as a soul-killing magic sword, though.)
’Don’t be careless. Mansoor and the women warrior monks from Gensou have seen me cast Star’s Song and other magic. If it Sarah or Linca, they would absolutely plan a sure-kill or seal method before facing you again. Expect the enemy to try something to seal me, too.’
(I did tell Rou I’d do something, but… all I can really do is stir up trouble in Gensou, or gather allies so their plan can’t work.)
’I have two ideas. One: prepare a flesh puppet I can escape into in an emergency. Two: use astrology to predict future danger.’
(Astrology even works?)
’Astrologia is proper magic. It observes the motions of the stars and interprets their shadows on the body, predicting destiny. I won’t bother explaining the academic part to a layman like you. Just gather what I tell you and do the ritual exactly. At night, of course.’
”But I need to meet Blumer now. If I collect things, dawn will come.”
’Then do it tomorrow. Buy the materials during the day.’
”Fine.”
’Crushing that revenge-obsessed man’s plans is the highest joy. This time, erase Mansoor completely. Even without a nose, his stench makes my whole being squirm.’
Kian nodded and started up Chin-Chin.
They dove from the cliffside plateau toward the northeast cove like a falcon.
* * *
The gambling den came alive in the dead of night, when no ships sailed.
Kian parked Chin-Chin on the usual cliff and leapt lightly down to the den’s entrance. The impact rippled through the ground and drew little screams, but he didn’t care, stepping past rows of red lanterns strung across the mouth of the ancient cavern. As always, the masked eastern man, Huan, was waiting.
”Welcome, Sir Coffee Black. Sir Sand Knight is already waiting inside.”
”Thank you.”
”And… we reached Sir Gensou.”
Huan stepped close and whispered so quietly it almost vanished into the buzz of voices and the sea wind spilling into the cove.
”He agreed to talk, one-on-one. Tomorrow at twenty-three. On an uninhabited island ten kilometers east of Water Island.”
”I see. Thank you for handling it so quickly.”
”It’s nothing. It happens often. —Please, enjoy your time.”
Kian gave a small bow, fitting on his mask as he stepped into the dim cavern. He passed through the lively music and drug haze of the public tables, heading for the private room he’d used before.
It was the same eastern-style tatami room. An attendant stood at the sliding door; seeing Kian approach, they poked their head in to announce him. Moments later, the door slid open, revealing the gloomy black-haired knight inside, chewing on grilled seafood.
Kian greeted him—Blumer—then slipped off his shoes and stepped up into the room.
”Sorry to call you on such short notice, Sir Sand Knight.”
”No need. I told you to contact me whenever something came up, didn’t I?” Blumer’s voice was low, his tone as flat as the black hair falling over his eyes. “Besides, I figured it was about time you made contact. You can’t let Crete fall. You’re here to fix what the rejected envoys couldn’t, aren’t you?”
”You see right through me. Half of it’s exactly that.”
”And the other half?”
”I want you to tell Ms. Priscilla to secretly transport Ms. Lyritisse to Crete. In absolute secrecy. And… I’d appreciate it if you didn’t report it to Sir Guy until he asks.”
”I’ll tell the Count. Especially if it involves Lady Priscilla.”
”Then please also tell Sir Guy it must be kept secret.”
”Of course.”
Blumer nodded, then fixed those dead black fish eyes squarely on Kian.
”And if I ask why you want Lady Lyritisse’s body… you won’t answer, will you.”
”I can’t,” Kian said simply. “I might explain a little to Ms. Priscilla, since she’s been kindly keeping her safe. You can ask her later.”
”Mm. The body of an adventurer doesn’t matter. Especially if it’s just a soulless flesh doll.” He waved a hand, dismissing it like ash. “More importantly… this war. Can you even win? How far do you intend to get involved, Lord Kian?”
Kian told him the same plan he had explained to Homolka. Blumer listened silently, and when Kian finished, he slowly shook his head.
”I doubt you can win by the end of the month. It all depends on how seriously Azrael pushes to push Mansoor out. Even if Asterios has been summoned again… you must know how impossible it is to hold back an enemy’s full offensive.”
”Of course. But I think I’ve made it clear it’s not unwinnable. I only ask that you at least hear us out, rather than dismissing it from the start.”
”You want the Count to send envoys here with decision-making power?”
”That’s right. Tell Lord Guy it was Kian who asked. I promise it’ll be worth his while.”
He drew out the letter addressed to Guy and slid it across to the seaweed-headed man.
”Understood. Since it’s your request, I’ll deliver both messages. Wait one day for an answer.”
”One day? Then, if they do send envoys, when—”
”One day,” Blumer repeated.
”The Count told me to contact him the moment you asked for help. Oh, and he left a message for you. ‘This makes us even, Kian.’”
”Wait, this counts as a favor?”
”Take it up with the Count.”
…So Guy and Blumer had already seen right through his moves. Not surprising, really. No way the merchant guild would pull out of Crete easily. If you lined up the pieces, his actions were obvious.
Blumer went on.
”The envoy will be Lady Priscilla. The Count forced her to take it. Considering the Lyritisse issue, it’s convenient.”
”That far’s already decided… Then maybe they shouldn’t have slammed the door on Crete’s envoys.”
”They’ll come to the table because it’s you, Hero of Izerland.”
He poured distilled liquor into Kian’s glass, the smell sharp and dry.
”If it weren’t you, they wouldn’t have agreed. That’s how hopeless the power gap is. Nothing like ten years ago. But you have the strength to overturn it. …We watched your battle with Mansoor from above. It was… very, very thrilling.”
”If you were watching, I’d have liked at least a little help.”
”I was holding down the Yougyokukan. The only reason just two of Gensou’s women showed up was because of that.”
His gaze slid down to Kian’s hands, lingering there, sticky and slow.
”I want to watch your fights from the best seat. I don’t know what Scipio’s planning, but… I’ll keep watching you dance with all you’ve got, bound by your limits. Ku-ku-ku-ku-ku…”
”……….”
’What is with this seaweed. Such a weird kelp,’ Talia muttered inside his mind.
(He’s been like this from the start. Weird guy, but fast and precise. That’s why Sir Guy values him.)
Kian shook Blumer’s cold hand in parting, then left the tatami room.
That was the job done.
On the way out, he bought grilled fish, bread, and wine at the counter, then headed back to Elder Gaius’s estate. Tomorrow he would spend the morning buying the materials for the astrology ritual, and if Priscilla came, he’d meet her and pass her to Scipio and the others. If she didn’t, he’d go to the island where he was to meet Gensou and check for traps during the day, then face him that night.
(Bath after training before bed. After training, just make me a magic bath.)
’Understood. A diligent pig is a good pig. Work hard,’ Talia said sweetly.
(It’s not diligence. I just can’t stand letting my sword arm dull.)
Back at Gaius’s estate, under the sky full of stars, Kian began practicing Beastmen Martial Arts and Mercenary King Swordsmanship, the styles he would use in his Asterios form.
Notes:
• Mag – The wolfwoman under Yelmar—the one who was caught by Kian’s group earlier.
• Isthbaran – The High Warlord of the ‘Storm Herd.’
• Mansoor – Crimson-eyed elder monk and Azrael’s Divine General from the Shakerdoust domain near Dacia. Wielding mist form, blood-drinking, rapid healing. He ties to allies like Ryoma and Hanami Tsai. First appearing in Vol. 4 Ch. 25. Quick tag: vampiric red-eyed grandpa-general who mist-forms and drinks blood, obsessed with rescuing his captured son unlike other human monks.
• Camilla – A woman; the subject of the chapter; her body was used to seal Erynys’ soul.
• Leprobus – Rou’s comrade who sacrificed his chance to escape during a pirate raid by pushing Rou off in a small boat. He returned to the deck, sword in hand, to protect the others. Distinguished by his giant blood and burning red hair, marking him as more than human. He is released by Kian on Cyclops Island jail.【v4c23】.
• Gensou – Eccentric young Eastern monk-general in Azrael’s army, playful yet ambitious. Wields sun-like magic, swordsmanship, and assassination tactics. Linked to three masked wives—Seishi, Oushoukun, and Yougyokukan (Head Magician). Ally of Mansoor and Oji, serves under Jibril, proposes Operation Assassination. First appears Vol. 4 Ch. 45. Reminder: playful Eastern general with masked harem wives, always late but magically explosive, contrasting serious monks with his bathrobe vibe and schemes.
• Linca – Jibril’s favorite girl. High-ranking warrior monk woman from Shin, with strong abilities like ignoring attacks and poisons.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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