Palace Demon

The governor’s castle in the Tasham Province of Arzhan Khanate.

A solemn and refined atmosphere filled the governor’s office.

A man was kneeling on a silk cushion.

“My lord, it has already been a week since you began your fast…”

Governor’s advisor Shahid bowed his head respectfully.

The man stared fixedly at the wall, ignoring the elderly servant’s plea.

His gaze was fixed on a hanging scroll with a painting.

It depicted a terrifying deity with disheveled black hair, beams of light and fire shooting from its eyes and mouth, using six arms to draw an elongated bow with tremendous strength.

The style was different from Eastern Median cultural traditions, featuring the intense colors and emphasized eyes characteristic of Northern Parthican art.

It was Shatra, a palace deity worshipped in the northern regions of the Arubian West Continent.

“The weight of a thousand deaths rests on my shoulders.”

A snow-white turban adorned with peacock feathers rose from his head.

The beautiful voice flowed from the back of the man’s head.

Finally, he turned his head, his black straight hair, like ebony, swaying beneath the turban.

“In such a situation, how could food possibly go down?”

Eyebrows as if drawn with a brush, skin as white as snow, red lips.

A beautiful young man with truly lovely features like a woman.

His expression was immersed in melancholy.

“You didn’t sacrifice those soldiers, my lord. You merely ordered threat reconnaissance and surrender recommendations, but it was the military magician Zuladin who made the mistake of engaging in combat on his own…”

“In the end, I held the final command authority, so the responsibility remains with me. That fact doesn’t change.”

Tasham Governor Hulani Alibakshu.

He closed his eyes with a heavy expression.

Shahid gazed sympathetically at the young governor who was barely old enough to be his son.

“My lord, please take care of your health. You’ve sufficiently empathized with the pain of the fallen soldiers’ families. This is too much.”

“Has Zuladin still not regained his senses?”

Shahid inwardly sighed at the misaligned question.

“…His mind has completely collapsed. He can’t even perform basic physiological functions like eating or excretion, and can barely control his body. He cannot leave his quarters, effectively under house arrest.”

“He’s reverted to an old man befitting his age.”

Hulani raised the corner of his mouth in a slight smile.

“Our provincial magic academy’s healers are repeatedly attempting to treat the aftereffects of his severe mental trauma and shock… but I’m not sure if complete recovery is possible, or if he can return to normal.”

“Is he still in the same state?”

“Yes, he just keeps fearfully crying out the name ‘White Sovereign’…”

Hulani turned around with a hardened expression to face Shahid.

The young governor’s desk was piled high with scrolls of parchment.

These were documents that hadn’t been approved during the past week.

“…Is it certain that the White Sovereign, the lord of the Grabadra Sea, is involved in this incident?”

“Scout units including military magicians as commanders continue to attempt reconnaissance in small groups… but they’re repeatedly hindered by worms.”

One of Hulani’s eyebrows slightly rose.

“Worms, you say?”

“Yes, Death Worms and Sand Worms lie hidden on the surface and attack when approached within a certain distance. However, travelers and merchant caravans passing nearby aren’t attacked. They seem to move as if they can precisely distinguish targets.”

“Do worms have such discriminating intelligence?”

“They appear to be tamed. Some have even been observed seemingly communicating with each other. They’re completely different from typical worms. If Zuladin’s testimony stems from truth rather than insanity, clearly the White Sovereign is controlling the worms.”

Hulani closed his eyes again and sighed.

“Hoo… Such a troublesome matter in my territory. Is it true that the terrain around the Rashka villages has also undergone the Great Cataclysm?”

“…I rode out to confirm that myself. It was magnificent. Water channels spreading like spider webs have formed centered around their village. It truly seemed like magic performed overnight by the legendary lamp’s great spirit.”

“Did the lamp’s fairy or great spirit or whatever actually exist…? Or is the White Sovereign’s true identity the lamp’s great spirit?”

“That’s impossible to know.”

Shahid shrugged as he answered.

Hulani lowered his gaze to look at the documents piled on his desk.

The workload that had accumulated during the week of mourning was overwhelming.

“Have you found the water merchant from the caravan?”

“…When we stormed his residence, he had already fled. We’re continuing the search.”

“Keep looking. He’s the source of all this trouble. We must catch him. Also, investigate and punish all officials from departments entangled with him. How could there be bribes in an organization under my authority?”

“We’ve already captured everyone connected to the Water-colored Oasis Dream caravan in the territory. We’re thoroughly investigating without distinction between insiders and outsiders. Just as expected, numerous corrupt individuals have been discovered, like that lower finance department official Zaid who was dispatched to Akran village a week ago and died there.”

“Well done. Corruption should never be tolerated under any circumstances.”

Hulani briefly commended Shahid.

Shahid, with his arms tucked into his sleeves, bowed his head.

“…A report has already been sent to the Amir in the capital. He must have heard the news by now. As a ruler entrusted with the mission of protecting the people’s property and lives, I must overcome and resolve this serious matter.”

Shahid gazed at Hulani with profound eyes.

‘Truly an upright person. If all politicians in the world were like you.’

Hulani originally came from the northern region, not the eastern part of the continent.

He belonged to the Erash tribe, nomadic people known to be the continent’s best equestrians, said to share life and death with their horses.

Even the Rashka couldn’t match the Erash in equestrian combat arts like mounted archery.

True to their tribal characteristics, the Erash wandered the continent.

They fed their horses on sparse pastures in the desert, moving on when even the weeds were depleted.

Only the Grabadra Sea in the eastern part of the continent was overwhelmingly sandy and most barren; the rest of the regions had sufficient grasslands to feed horses.

Despite these tribal characteristics, some always chose to settle.

Their superior horsemanship was itself an excellent strategic asset.

Hulani’s ancestors were also settlers who had put down roots in the Arzhan Khanate.

The Sun Religion, the most powerful sect in the eastern continent, follows monotheistic principles but is tolerant of other religions as long as they pay religious taxes.

It was the beauty of waiting intrinsic to their doctrine—that someday unbelievers would realize the true faith and convert on their own.

Thus, the Erash tribe, who worshipped palace deities, served their affiliated nations with gratitude.

They even had tribal privileges similar to the Rashka, without any social discrimination.

Naturally gifted, Hulani rose rapidly from an ordinary soldier to governor.

The Erash tribe emphasized martial spirit and stressed strict self-discipline and harmony.

It was inevitable that Hulani would grow into an honest and upright politician.

All the people of Tasham Province praised his excellent governance.

‘Palace deity, is this perhaps a trial you’ve imposed on me?’

With eyes closed solemnly, Hulani simply questioned the palace deity that rarely answered him.

“Ah, and this is a report that came in today… The scouts observed something quite interesting.”

“What is it?”

Hulani focused on his advisor’s voice, which pulled him back to reality.

“The Rashka of Akran have completely opened their gates and are letting in anyone who passes by. And they’re providing remarkably clean and cool water for free. They’re propagating a strange theory that this gift will be provided eternally to those who join them under the White Sovereign’s rule, and that water, naturally belonging to nature, doesn’t need an owner.”

“Water, you say?”

Hulani showed interest in the unexpected topic.

“As you well know, water is an extremely precious resource in the desert. Whether beggar or rich, all die the same without water.”

“Indeed.”

“Thanks to this, water merchant caravans are in an uproar. Imagine providing special water for free to passing travelers and caravans. One scout disguised as a merchant slipped inside and tasted the water… he said it was the coolest, most delicious water he’d ever tasted in his life. He called it the elixir of life bestowed by God.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“…This raises a question. If the Rashka harbored evil rebellious intentions, why would they do such things? In the desert, one can become wealthy just by selling water. The fact that they’re doing this… perhaps the Rashka aren’t simply vicious traitors?”

The shrewd advisor’s eyes sparkled with intelligence.

“Hmm……”

Hulani let out a long contemplative sound.

‘Water, huh.’

Come to think of it, the Rashka now possessed a very solid resource.

Yet, they weren’t trying to use it as a strategic weapon.

Instead, they were being benevolent by giving away free water.

“…Perhaps the White Sovereign isn’t as malicious as rumored?”

“I think that might be the case. Perhaps… he’s someone we can communicate with. And if we could also obtain water…”

Suddenly Shahid’s eyes became sharp like a hawk’s.

“Wouldn’t it be an enormous help to our finances? To the entire nation’s coffers too?”

Hulani stared at Shahid fixedly.

Now he understood what the man was trying to say.

“…But I am a ruler. I must hold him accountable for the bereaved families’ resentment and the blood price of sacrificed soldiers.”

“My lord, politics is an endless series of negotiations. One must consider benefits, not just adhere to principles.”

“Even if the White Sovereign has been wronged in some way, his crimes must be punished. That’s all I can think about right now.”

Shahid’s eyes immediately filled with concern at Hulani’s words.

“…Will you use that power?”

Not many know Hulani’s true identity.

Shahid was among the select few.

“I must.”

“What if the White Sovereign and the Rashka are reasonable beings? What if they had reasons for killing the official, slaughtering the army, and inciting rebellion?”

“I’ll confirm it myself.”

Hulani reached toward a stand beside him.

A bow of very special form rested there.

The handsome young governor called to it affectionately.

“Tigran…”

A composite bow made of solid adamantine, wrapped with clear jade and brilliant gold trim decorations.

Its exquisite form was closer to a work of art than a weapon.

Peculiarly, no bowstring was visible anywhere.

The weight of the bow alone exceeded 10kg.

An ordinary person couldn’t even properly lift such an object.

“Tigran. Are you excited? Thinking about running wild after so long?”

Woooong-

The bow with a will of its own trembled at its master’s gesture.

Hulani, gripping the bow, sprang up from the cushion.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

When Hulani set his mind on something, it was impossible to break his resolve.

Shahid, who knew him too well, could only bow his head.

“…Please be careful.”

The Erash, a nomadic tribe from northern Arubia famous for their bows and horses.

A legendary super warrior said to be born once every thousand years.

A divine archer with understanding of every bow in existence.

A being who carried the palace deity that governed archery as his constellation.

The Palace Demon had set out to shoot down the White Sovereign.