Chapter 161: Division (1)

“A hero shall come! A white horse with dozens of legs shall cross the capital! A hero riding a white horse shall come!”

Fabian heard the monstrous screams all as he walked across the prison. The old woman was covered in wounds, but her eyes shone brightly. Even though she hadn’t been given proper meals, she squeezed out her voice as if wringing water from a rag to preach her prophecy.

“Damn it! Make that crazy bitch shut up! Whether the hero rides a white horse or mounts some noble lady, what business is it of ours? Even though I’ve done some stealing, do I have to listen to such crazy talk?”

And the thief shouted, hanging from the bars. The guard, as if tired of the daily starting nerve war, shook his head and got up from his seat. He said to the old woman.

“Be quiet. You crazy old hag. Huh? Just because you scream here, who’s going to notice?”

“But the hero will come! Even if my prophecy remains an empty echo in this underground pit! Even if I become a symbol of madness and rot away! The hero will surely come!”

“Grandma. Be quiet. Can’t you understand me?”

“The hero comes! Riding a white horse with dozens of legs, the hero crosses the capital!”

“Ah……”

The guard, with a face full of irritation, turned back again. The criminals, including the thief, hanging from the bars, started hurling insults at the crazy old woman. The guard took out the club kept on the desk and approached the old woman again.

“Yeah! Beat her within an inch of her life!”

“Make that crazy bitch unable to open her mouth again!”

“Kill her! You fucking bitch! The moon is in the sky right now, what is this, some horny owl? Why are you screaming your lungs out! Go to the afterlife and fuck that damn white horse!”

“The hero shall come! Hero! Heeeeero!”

And the guard opened the cell door. Aimed at the old woman’s head, the club flew down mercilessly. The frail old woman’s arm snapped on the first hit.

“Aaaaaaagh!”

The old woman screamed and rolled on the floor, while the guard, with eyes turned blood-red, repeatedly beat the old woman’s head. He had no reason to show mercy. Watching the spectacle of brain matter and blood splattering, the criminals cheered. Fabian sat at his desk, waiting for the guard to drag out the corpse.

“Good riddance! Shit, is there some kind of plague? Once a week, lunatics like that come in.”

The guard dragged the corpse in the sack out. Faint bloodstains remained on the stone floor, but buried in the warmth of the bonfire, they looked like shadows. The guard, wiping the blood from his face, said.

“I apologize. There was a slight incident…”

Fabian, looking at the corpse, said.

“Another prophet came in?”

The guard wiped the blood from his face and shook his head. His face showed exhaustion just hearing the word ‘prophecy’.

“It’s unbelievable. Once a week, where do these lunatics get caught? No matter how many we catch, there’s no end. In this town, I never imagined there were so many beggars obsessed with conspiracy theories.”

Fabian said.

“From now on, don’t bother dragging them to prison, kill them on the spot. Unleash the guards. At least in the capital, we must prevent these strange rumors from spreading.”

“Will the capital alone be enough? Even private conversations among merchants cannot be controlled. Because of those rumors already, people are starting to question if the current hero is the real hero.”

Fabian frowned. The guard, realizing his mistake, waved his hands and said.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Right. Then, keep up the hard work.”

“Yes. Boss.”

The guard bowed to Fabian and returned to his work. Fabian looked at the sack soaking with blood. Lit by the torch, the old sack, perhaps, looked like it was turning black. Fabian shook his head and left the prison.

From the underground prison, through a side passage, he emerged into the square. In the square, the statue of the founder stood majestically. Fabian saw the people gathered towards the city walls, with the statue between them.

“Please stop the massacre happening in the north. Hero!”

“Hero! Please dispatch troops to the north!”

“My son is dead! The mines have collapsed, and my children are starving because there’s no food!”

People dressed in ragged clothes were pleading in mournful tones. Fabian clicked his tongue seeing that sight. Under Alexander’s name, the dispatched troops were annihilated by the Imp Drak-Sai. Both Alexander and Wolf had failed to present any countermeasures since then. Wolf was in shock from the execution incident of the Hero’s family that occurred in the east at the same time, while Alexander was dealing with the aftermath of this incident due to the annihilation of the successors of the Hero’s faction whom he had brought in.

Mobius had entered his magic tower and had been in hiding for a long time. Since it was uncertain whether he would receive budget support next year, he had to finish his research within this year.

And while they were struggling with matters completely unrelated to the lives of the kingdom’s people, a large-scale massacre was taking place in the north. The people living in the mountain ranges had fallen prey to demons, and craftsmen like blacksmiths or tanners had become slaves to the demons.

According to the spies dispatched to the north, Drak-Sai’s army had grown in strength and was now sweeping through more than half of the north.

Ironically, the reason this northern front could mount even minimal resistance was thanks to Orland, from the Hero’s family. Claiming he was going to find a woman, Orland, who had gone missing after going north, ignored the recall order and remained in the north, confronting the demons.

But he was merely human, and the demons were too strong. Like an object being pushed by strong water pressure, every time the demons pushed forward, Orland’s unit kept retreating further and further.

“Hero! Please, I beg you! Fight!”

“Draw your sword and defeat those evil demons!”

“Send troops!”

People with family in the north were beside themselves with the tragic news coming from the north. Some scratched the city walls with their hands, clung to the soldiers, and wailed towards the castle. Sometimes, people who threw stones were arrested, and others, unable to bear their anger and sorrow, fainted.

But that was ultimately someone else’s problem.

To the Hero and Alexander, it seemed to be just that. They were holed up in their mansions and had no intention of coming out. Fabian watched the protesters intently, sighed deeply, and headed towards Alexander’s residence.

In Alexander’s office, there was always a delicious smell. Greasy whole roasted chicken and a whole roasted wild boar, served after being fried once. Tropical fruits with a superb bitter taste, and rare crops that grow only in specific regions.

Fabian thought Alexander’s table was just like a museum. If someone were to ask about the kingdom’s food culture, seating them across this table would be better than giving a troublesome explanation.

Alexander was tearing into chicken while diligently organizing documents. Fabian leaned against the office door and called his name.

“Alexander.”

“Uh, what is it, Fabian? Sorry, but I’m busy. If it’s about a commission or something else, you’d better just go to Wolf. Wolf looks like he’s in a bad mood right now, so be careful.”

Alexander said that, diligently writing letters or stamping documents. The letters visible at a glance contained content like, ‘I apologize.’ ‘If it wasn’t intentional, this time…’

Fabian said.

“The north is in chaos right now. We need to send troops as soon as possible. The longer we stay here like this, the more people will die.”

Alexander said, without even looking at Fabian.

“Fabian. That’s not the problem right now. The successors I took last time all died, didn’t they? If I personally lead the troops out now, what kind of image will that project? Anyone would think I’m plotting to weaken other noble families by doing this, right? Therefore, to the nobles who will participate again this time, I need to secure compensation, promise them strong support, and then gather troops again. Huh? It can’t be helped.”

“Even while that’s happening, people are dying. If the north suffers irreversible damage, what is the reason for our existence?”

Alexander stopped his pen. He put down the meat on the table and said to Fabian. His tone was like he was admonishing a child.

“Fabian. Not that many people live in the north anyway. Rebuilding the mines will be quick, and besides…”

Alexander was about to continue speaking, but hesitated. Fabian’s face was contorted. Alexander covered his face with his hands and reached out.

“I’m sorry, Fabian. I didn’t mean it like that. Huh? It’s just… I’m a bit busy right now. You know how I am. When I’m overwhelmed, I don’t remember things properly.”

Fabian did not accept Alexander’s apology. He gritted his teeth and turned away. His face was filled with disappointment.

Fabian.

His hometown was the north.