Ch.367Sacred Fire

Hersella couldn’t continue speaking due to something like embarrassment, while Jahan repeatedly begged forgiveness.

I sighed for what felt like the hundredth time and calmed him down.

“Stop bowing your head and get up. ‘The real Haschal’ says… ‘Since you did it unknowingly, I won’t hold you accountable. Just be careful from now on.'”

[…You’re just lying. When did I ever say such a thing?]

Hersella, finally coming to her senses, muttered reproachfully.

True. I never actually said that.

But didn’t I tell you earlier not to nitpick every little thing? Have you already forgotten?

‘Do you have a problem with that? Should I tell him to pay for his crimes and cut off Jahan’s head right now? Like a proper Ka’har. I don’t particularly care either way.’

[No, that’s not what I meant…]

Faced with my sincere proposal, Hersella immediately backed down.

Clearly, Jahan was quite special to her.

Unlike the other guard members whose heads she’d cut off just for chatting during night watch.

From now on, if she complains about anything, I can just use Jahan to shut her up.

“I am grateful for Lord Haschal’s mercy…!”

Hearing my words, Jahan immediately raised his head and stood up.

…This guy is ridiculous.

In situations like this, shouldn’t he dramatically recite something like “No! I have disobeyed Lord Haschal’s strict orders, this sinner must rightfully be punished!”?

The way he jumps up the moment he hears he’s forgiven seems far too natural. That’s a quick change of attitude, even for him.

Is this how they usually behaved? It’s truly absurd.

A farce so ridiculous it was almost pathetic.

I felt like I was witnessing Bonnie and Clyde playing house.

Are these people really the murderers who destroyed the Empire—the mad Hersella and her right-hand man, the Champion Jahan?

Is my memory somehow wrong?

—-

The conversation continued afterward.

I proved that Hersella’s consciousness remained within me by sharing several old memories that only she and Jahan would know. Then I allowed them to communicate directly by carving letters with Karma of Murder on the prison wall.

He had been begging to speak with Hersella.

I was worried she might say something unnecessary… but fortunately, she didn’t.

“Are you saying you’ll postpone reclaiming your body?”

/Yes. I too don’t know what villain committed this deed. However, considering when I lost my body, the culprit is likely hiding in the Great Plains. Unfortunately, we cannot go there now. The Empire wouldn’t let me go, and even if just the two of us somehow managed to return, we would perish miserably under Aishan’s pursuit. To them, we are already clear traitors./

No, we couldn’t go there anyway.

How would they even get to the east when I have no intention of going there?

“Are you saying the Empire will detain you, Lord Haschal?”

/That’s not what I mean. You don’t know this yet, but this person has become a key figure in the Empire in just half a year. He could now be called the Emperor’s closest confidant. Though it started because of my mother’s family and my power… achieving this position owes more to his abilities than my own./

Jahan looked at me with an expression that seemed to ask if this was true, and I shrugged my shoulders.

Yes. This is all thanks to me.

If Hersella herself had defected to the Empire, wouldn’t she have been executed for causing a disturbance because she couldn’t control her temper?

/Moreover, not just in status but in pure combat ability, he’s close to being the strongest in the Empire. Someone who initially couldn’t even hold a sword is now my equal or beyond. Unless the Imperials are fools, they wouldn’t let such a person go, would they?/

Hersella still had no conscience.

“Equal or beyond,” what nonsense. She’s only Champion-level herself. Could you even block the Sword of Defying Fate?

“…That’s an impossible rate of growth. Didn’t you say he was just an ordinary soldier before?”

/Well… perhaps his original body couldn’t keep up with his talent? Anyway, given the situation, our best option is to help him raise the Empire’s military as the vanguard of our revenge. If things proceed smoothly, it might be more effective than Mersin’s plan to build a position within Aishan and then cause internal strife./

Hersella was surprisingly willing to persuade Jahan to help me.

Even if it was for her own revenge plans.

‘Are you sure about this? Using the Imperial army against the east would mean not just destroying your enemies but potentially annihilating Aishan itself.’

[That’s not my concern. It’s a country full of people who despised my mother and, for whatever reason, betrayed me. If they won’t follow me, if they’ll hinder my revenge, there’s no reason to spare them.]

A rather cold answer.

Well, she never showed any reluctance when attacking the White Banner Division either.

While she defines her identity as a Ka’har warrior, it seems she doesn’t particularly like the other Ka’har of Aishan.

Perhaps it’s because she’s mixed-blood? What a complicated personality.

/Though this person’s goals don’t completely align with mine… we’re undoubtedly walking the same path. So, Jahan, until everything is finished, treat his orders as if they were mine. As you are my Champion, he is my Centurion. Understood?/

“…Yes. I will follow your orders, Lord Haschal.”

And so, Jahan finally accepted my offer to fight as my warrior.

A satisfactory outcome.

—-

Afterward, I explained to Jahan the rules he must follow under my command.

“This is the Empire, not the Great Plains. If you act like a Ka’har warrior, you’ll be ostracized as a barbarian. That would be troublesome in many ways, wouldn’t it?”

He must not draw his sword without my permission except in self-defense.

When alone with me, it doesn’t matter, but in front of others, he must address me as Aishan-Gioro Haschal.

And he must not be disrespectful to my acquaintances or subordinates.

These were the minimum conditions to avoid bloodshed.

“Hmm……”

“You don’t have any objections, do you? If you’ve decided to defect to the Empire, shouldn’t you make some effort to adapt to Imperial life?”

Unlike me, Jahan is a pure-blooded Ka’har, so it won’t be easy for the Imperials to accept him.

If he causes trouble on top of that, my position could become somewhat difficult as well.

So, at the very least, I needed to prevent situations that might lead to extreme conflict.

“If you can’t do it, you can just stay here quietly until everything is over.”

It’s not exactly comfortable accommodation, but if you behave, Ludwig will at least provide meals.

I waited for his answer, moving the half-burned cigarette with my teeth.

From my perspective, it didn’t matter whether Jahan agreed or not.

What I had promised Hersella was to “protect” her subordinate, so even if I left him locked up here, I would still be fulfilling that oath of protection.

“…I will follow your orders. No, I will comply.”

After hesitating briefly, Jahan nodded with a firm expression and agreed to the conditions I had set.

Perhaps trying to follow my instruction to treat me as his superior, he even changed his speech to be more respectful.

Well, he didn’t have much choice.

If you have to choose between a leash and a prison, the leash is probably better.

“Good. I like your quick decision. With this, you’re now a member of Épée du Ciel.”

“Épée du Ciel…?”

“Ah, you don’t know Imperial language, right? In eastern terms, it would be the Heavenly Sword Division. Sky’s Sword, the name of my personal guard. I’m building a small elite order of knights, all Master-level fighters. With you joining, that makes five.”

Jahan looked a bit surprised at the mention of five Master-level fighters.

“Recruiting four Champions in half a year… no wonder Lord Haschal had expectations. Did she give you the name Heavenly Sword Division?”

No. Hersella was insisting on crazy names like Heavenly Demon Blood Sword Division.

She’s still not over her heavenly demon obsession.

And probably never will be.

Though, I did derive the name “Heavenly Sword Division” from her suggestion, so it’s not completely wrong.

“More or less. Why, don’t you like the name?”

“How could I not? It’s a good name that feels powerful and spirited without being excessively flashy.”

Is that so? I’m glad you like it.

Though it seems like he’s just flattering me because Hersella came up with the name.

—-

“If you escaped from Ordos and ran all the way to the Wall, that means you don’t know what’s happening in the east either?”

“Correct. Judging by the fact that no pursuit team followed me, something must have happened in Ordos… but I don’t know exactly what.”

That’s unfortunate. I wanted to know when Orhan might invade.

When he said he had a message for Hersella, I thought he might know detailed information about the east… but in the end, all he knows is that the Guard Cavalry Division betrayed her.

At this rate, Landenburg will have to maintain this state of alert. Everyone must be exhausted.

I asked various other questions, but Jahan didn’t know much.

The only useful information was that Amin, who was badly defeated, didn’t return to Ordos and disappeared, causing trouble for his maternal family.

Amin… I wonder if he died somewhere.

Since there are no priests in the east who can perform healing miracles, treating such severe wounds wouldn’t be easy.

“Wait here for a while. I’ll get Ludwig’s permission to release you.”

After stamping out my cigarette butt, I turned around.

Although I had said I would take Jahan as my subordinate, I still needed Ludwig’s permission to get him out of prison.

“…Before that, there’s one last thing I’d like to ask. Would you allow it?”

You have something to ask me?

“I’ll allow it. What is it?”

“I’d like to know your name. Even if I must call you Lord Haschal in front of others, I cannot address you that way when it’s just the two of us.”

Ah, my name?

[Yes, I want to know that too! You know so much about me, yet I don’t even know your name. Don’t you think that’s unfair? What kind of name is it that you hide it so?”

Hersella also agreed with Jahan and pressed me.

Well, there’s nothing I can’t tell you.

I just haven’t mentioned my previous name because I’ve committed to living as Haschal.

Since they wouldn’t understand my Korean name if I said it directly, I should translate it into the local language.

So…

“Fleur d’Étoile de Plèbe. In your language, it would be ‘Bira Ushairha.’ That’s my name.”

[…My goodness.]

Hersella muttered in a dumbfounded voice.

What kind of reaction is that after I went to the trouble of telling you?

[Flower of the Stars? What a terribly unsuitable name. And you were even a noble? You…?]

…No, it only sounds that way because I translated it into the local language.

In my original world, it didn’t have such a lively connotation.