Azadin stopped Zebeck.
"Now, now, calm down. I've heard a little about the situation. It seems that the man's wife became a cultist and caused this mess. If he were to admit that his wife became a cultist, not only would he have to kill her, but he himself would be interrogated for being connected to her. That's why he's keeping it a secret."
"Ah, so that's the reason? A cultist, huh… Well, if his family is involved, I suppose Sir Brock had no other choice."
Guillaumevalt clenched his fist.
"Now that we know the reason, let's help him. I don't know what kind of trick the cultists pulled to bewitch Sir Brock's wife, but she can still return. If we can persuade her and bring her back safely—"
"Hm."
Azadin clicked his tongue at those words.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"Huh?"
This time, everyone in the group looked at Azadin in surprise.
'Wait, isn't this guy supposed to be a chivalrous fool?'
Midiam had thought Azadin was a simple-minded warrior, so she was taken aback by his refusal. Even Ishmael was baffled.
'He has a habit of mutilating the genitals of those who oppose him, but I thought he liked helping people?'
Since Azadin opposed the rescue, everyone was flustered. However, Ishmael welcomed his decision.
"For once, we agree. I was worried you'd recklessly insist on helping again."
"But didn't you say saving people is a beautiful thing?"
Midiam was more curious about why Azadin was refusing.
"Alright, let me explain while I have the chance. Midiam, of course, saving people is a beautiful thing. But allowing others to take advantage of that beauty and be used by them without resistance is nothing but foolishness. Do you think that sounds too cold?"
"I don't quite understand the principle behind it."
Midiam still found it hard to grasp Azadin's reasoning.
'Sometimes he helps without hesitation, but other times he over analyzes things?'
Azadin understood why she was confused. She was a teenage girl, easily influenced by others. Moreover, she belonged to the proud Aether family, where pride and aesthetics mattered deeply.
"Midiam, I appreciate that you value this sense of aesthetics. But those who pursue beauty must also guard against it being exploited and tainted by others. In that sense, let me explain why I'm not rushing to help in this case. First, look around. There are many refugees, aren't there?"
"Yes."
"How many horses, cows, donkeys, and wagons are there compared to the number of people?"
"Uh… just a few."
"That means most of the refugees here fled on foot. We don't know what kind of disaster occurred, but it was an environment where they could escape on foot. That much is clear, right?"
"Yes."
"Then it's unlikely that innocent civilians are trapped in the fog. They should have been able to escape on foot."
"But still, isn't Sir Brock's wife in there?"
"That man is a vassal who has received a fief. He and his wife, his family, are responsible for that land. If Sir Brock's wife contributed to summoning this fog as a cultist, then she is not a victim—she is a perpetrator against the people living in the manor. Yet Sir Guillaumevalt speaks of helping her simply because she's an acquaintance. But our help is not so cheap."
"Ah, I see what you mean. Indeed, this isn't the time to waste time here. We need to hurry to Lantarik, make that man Count Lantarik, and obtain clues about the emperor's treasury…"
Midiam, after listening to Azadin's explanation, accepted his reasoning. Even Sir Brand, who was in his state as a knight of brass, agreed.
"It is only natural when considering the duty of a knight! If a knight's wife falls into cultism and harms the people, then he has failed in his duty as a knight."
"And above all, we need to move quickly. Then, Sir Guillaumevalt, let's take a detour and continue moving."
Just as Azadin said that—
"Hmph, so you do have some sense. Let's go."
Shati urged them to move.
"..."
"What?"
When Shati noticed the stares directed at her, she asked, and Scott grumbled.
"And yet you used to be an intelligence agent with that kind of thinking?"
"What?"
"Hey, take a look at this place. This used to be the southeastern branch of the Nagas. When Shati messed up in Salasma, this is probably where she was supposed to deliver the Book of the Divine King."
"Y-You bastard! How dare you—"
"No, I was trying to keep your secret. But you're doing such a poor job of hiding it that you're making yourself suspicious. For the record, I'm a rational being, and no matter how foolish and dim-witted a Naga may be, I don't enjoy watching someone get tortured. I'm saying this to skip the torture."
'If I didn't say anything, Azadin would have tortured you for interrogation.' That was what Scott was implying to Shati.
"No way…"
Despite being Azadin's prisoner, for some reason, Shati was convinced that Azadin wouldn't torture her.
"A-Are we really going to trust this orc?"
"Tch, your actions only strengthen their trust in me. Foolish Naga woman. But fine. I shall now demonstrate the greatest oath that guarantees my credibility."
"What is it?"
Azadin, curious, asked.
'Ah, if I ask this guy something like this, he's bound to say something absurd and piss me off. And yet, I still asked…'
Azadin regretted giving in to his curiosity, but there was no taking back his words now.
"Well, here it is."
Scott extended his thumb and index finger, then pressed his nose.
"What does that mean?"
"This is a hand signal orcs use to vouch for their words. It means that if I'm wrong, you can call me a human half-breed. It's the sign for 'I, half-orc.'"
"..."
"Of course, everyone here knows that there isn't even a one-in-a-million chance that a super-genius orc like me has any of your feeble human blood in me."
"For the love of… Please, just be quiet. Why do you always add unnecessary comments that get you in trouble?"
"Are you threatening to hit me? Hmph, so the only way you can oppose my intellect is through violence. How typical of humans. So barbaric."
"Just shut up."
Azadin silenced Scott and turned to Guillaumevalt.
"Well, that's settled. Let's go help."
"W-Who exactly are you people?"
Guillaumevalt finally asked the question he should have posed much earlier.
"As you can see, I am from the Herald Clan. This one is a Holy Knight of the King's Church, this one is an agent of the Naga Empire, and this friend here…"
"A super-genius orc who always serves his employer with utmost sincerity."
"..."
It was an utterly bizarre and absurd combination.
"Don't look at me like that. I have feelings too, you know."
Azadin said that to Guillaumevalt and then pointed toward Brock, the knight who was sitting dazed in front of the fog, drunk and lost in despair.
"Let's ask him to guide us."
***
"Ah, Sir Brock. I've heard about the situation from the soldiers and others."
"Huh? T-That's nonsense."
"There's no need to be so defensive. Hmm, uh, how should I put this… Look…"
Guillaumevalt struggled to persuade Brock and eventually turned to Azadin for help. In the end, Azadin stepped forward.
"Have you heard that Count Garnahair went missing in battle?"
"This is the first I've heard of it. But if that's the case…"
"Yes. Sir Guillaumevalt is currently acting as the interim count. That's why he's in a hurry to reach Lantarik and fulfill his duties as acting count. But even without going to Lantarik, would you agree that Sir Guillaumevalt, as the acting count, has the authority to make all decisions regarding Lantarik's affairs?"
"..."
'So, this guy also knows that this Adler or whatever is the real heir.'
Seeing Brock's lukewarm response, Azadin realized the truth.
'Well, of course. He's a vassal granted a fief along the Imperial Road's core route. The count must have placed someone trustworthy there, and if that's the case, it's only natural that he would have been informed about the succession plan.'
Having figured out the situation, Azadin cleared his throat.
"We are already aware that the count designated Young Master Adler as his heir and informed some of his vassals. However, a crucial fact has recently come to light that overturns that decision."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Do you know the real reason your wife became a cultist?"
"…W-What?!"
"Young Master Adler has been in close contact with cultists. Otherwise, how could the cultists have infiltrated the Sinop Fortress along the Continental Road?"
"?!"
Zebeck clicked his tongue as he listened.
'I knew Azadin was a good liar, but this is on another level…'
For Brock, who had lost everything because his wife had become a cultist and was now facing execution by burning, this was an eye-popping revelation.
"Well, if you still want to ignore this and side with Young Master Adler, we'll just take a detour and leave."
"W-Wait a moment! Are you saying that Young Master Adler brought in the cultists?"
"Tsk."
Azadin gestured for him to lower his voice.
"Normally, when a spouse turns out to be a cultist, the husband is also subjected to a rigorous interrogation. Even if one survives that, their tendons and bones end up torn apart, leaving them crippled. You know that, don't you?"
"Ugh…"
"However, our Young Master Guillaumevalt greatly values Sir Brock's sincerity. He finds it regrettable that a diligent and devout man like Sir Brock should be punished simply because he was too preoccupied with administrative duties to notice his wife's descent into corruption. Such a loss would be a self-inflicted wound upon Lantarik."
"T-Then…"
"We will investigate the matter and resolve it, and along the way, we can slightly adjust the evidence to ensure that no harm befalls you. It's not exactly a price, but…"
"I-I swear my loyalty!"
Brock offered his sword to Guillaumevalt, pledging his allegiance to him as Count Lantarik.
"Sir Brock…"
Guillaumevalt was moved to the point of tears.
'Just how unloved must he have been growing up, to be so touched by a forced pledge of loyalty?'
As Azadin was taken aback by Guillaumevalt's reaction, another person's eyes welled up—none other than Brand, the knight of brass.
"Ah, the loyalty of knights is truly beautiful."
"..."
What part of this was loyalty? Azadin had practically dragged Brock by the leash. If this counted as the aesthetics of knighthood, then even a pig being led to slaughter with a rope would be seen as inspiring devotion.
"Well then, Sir Brock. Please guide us. Since the fog itself contains mana, ordinary soldiers unfamiliar with magic will be of little use. It would be best to form a team of knights or clergy members at the very least."
"There aren't many such people available. It seems I will have to enter myself. However…"
"Rest assured, we will ensure that any unfortunate events inside remain undisclosed. If you become a vassal of Young Master Guillaumevalt, we will be sailing on the same ship. Why would we welcome discord among allies?"
"..."
Hearing this, Zebeck let out a chuckle. Since when had Azadin become Guillaumevalt's vassal, to be talking about sharing the same fate?
But perhaps it was the sight of Brand, moved to tears, that did it—Brock placed his full trust in Azadin.