Chapter 59 (1/2)
“This is too outrageous even for a misunderstanding! The castle lord Margils is the hero who destroyed a Shadow Demon nest on this very land and eliminated all Demonists from the city of Lelis!”
The voice of Claura, who was glaring at the War Tribe warriors from the lookout, surged out with almost enough heat to set the air on fire.
The sharpness was such that it made even the 2 dark elves by her side quiver briefly, but the hulk that was the target of her voice — Head Warrior Leid — did not even flinch.
“It might very well be a misunderstanding. However, by meeting him directly, we will be able to determine whether or not he is a Shadow Demon or Demonist. If he is innocent as you claim, then we wish for him to comply.”
“You cretin! Is that the att.i.tude of someone requesting something?! But if you really must, first have that ill-mannered mob behind you stand down!”
In the face of Claura’s {Fire Arrow}-like sharp tongue, Leid merely stood in place, letting the tirade wash over him as if he was a rock.
After a period of prolonged silence, Claura gestured towards Sasara with an almost imperceptible motion.
“...... Understood, Okugata-sama. I will hurry to inform my lord.”
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After the young girl with tanned skin slipped out of the castle with the help of invisibility magic that allowed her to almost melt into shadows, there was also movement among the War Tribe members standing by behind Leid.
Behind the man with the most eye-catching armor, there appeared several warriors wearing strange equipment.
“There was movement?”
“One dark elf, heading west. My partner is tailing her.”
“Good. Most likely, that’s where Margils is. If he heads back here, don’t do anything. If he flees, report back immediately. Don’t lose him!”
“Yes, sir.”
The lightly armored warrior who bowed to the warrior with the eye-catching armor was wearing a face mask that was strangely enlarged around the eye area. He, and the few others with him, were War Tribe spies called ‘Ear-Eye’s.
Whereas normal men would have difficulty even seeing a dark elf in action, these men were capable of not only seeing, but also tailing said dark elf.
“Call the Head Warrior back. We’ll all rest until the next report comes.”
“Yes, sir.”
The warrior with eye-catching armor — both of his shoulder guards were decorated with a figure made up of 6 eyes, and there were bird tail feathers attached to his back — also gave instructions to a few other warriors.
He was the one who had the highest authority among those present, War General Kanbelis.
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In Sedia, naughty children are often threatened with “bad children will get eaten by Shadow Demons~!” The phrase said with the next highest frequency is “children that stay up late will be hunted down by the War Tribe~!”
Despite the absence of any large scale Shadow Demon attacks and overt Demonist activity in the past ten years in the areas around Lake Liuus, this was one thing that had not changed.
No one knew the location of their base, nor their exact number.
What was well known, however, was not only that every single one of them was the equal of a thousand men, but that they possessed unique skills that enabled them to track and hunt down Shadow Demons and Demonists with great efficiency. If that was all, then they would have been esteemed as the guardians of humanity by one and by all. But no, they were also famed for their ruthlessness. When they discover a Demonist, they would expose him, with zero regard to how well the Demonist had integrated into society, before mercilessly cutting them down. Even for those dreaming of a world without Shadow Demons, the War Tribe was an evil omen of fear.
This was the price that they had to pay for growing to look down on the humans that they had been tasked to protect, as they had come to place supreme priority on “crus.h.i.+ng all Shadow Demons and everything else linked to Shadow Demons.” But most of them had yet to realize this.
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“Has there been any reaction from the ‘Sight Demon’?”
“None, as of yet.”
After informing the chamberlain lady of a temporary suspension of conversation, Leid had come back. Ignoring Kanbelis, he went straight towards another War Tribe member.
His target was the only person among the group who was wearing a robe instead of armor. In his hand rested a crystal ball the size of a child’s fist. His name was Kyuil, and he was a War Tribe Diviner.
If one took a better look, they would have seen that there is a dark red ma.s.s sealed within the crystal ball. This was a secret War Tribe magic item called a ‘Sight Demon’ that possesses the ability to recognize Shadow Demons and those who’ve been affected by Shadow Demons. The ma.s.s sealed inside the crystal ball was actually Shadow Demon blood.
“Head Warrior. Shadow Demons and nests aside, in order for the Sight Demon to distinguish a Demonist, direct contact is necessary.”
“...... Which at least means that there are no Shadow Demons nor nests in the vicinity, then.”
“Leid! That conclusion is for me to make.”
“I get it.”
In contrast to Kyuil, whose voice was dispa.s.sionate and matter-of-fact, Kanbelis’ was cautionary. Leid turned towards the War General who was only about as tall as his chest and bowed slightly.
“Considering that the Miko had imparted a prophecy about this, we must be doubly and triply cautious. If Margils is a mere braggart, or if he — though I find this unlikely — truly is a ‘Great Wizard,’ either way he would be of no concern to us. However, in the one in a million chance that the Sight Demon shows any reaction whatsoever……”
(T/N: Miko: shrine maiden or priestess)