The square was still filled with people seething with anger and grief. They had fled after suddenly being struck by a typhoon in Coral Sahar, losing their homes, only to then be attacked by humans who had turned into monsters without warning. With nowhere to direct their fury and sorrow, they were on the verge of madness.
In front of such people, every word, every gesture had to be made with utmost caution.
"W–what in the world has happened? Why are people turning into monsters…?"
"They killed our families! Tell us what's going on!"
"P–people are saying only those who drank the potion from the Blue Sky Order turned into monsters, is that true?"
"No, the Taoist master would never do such a thing!"
"It's that woman! That strange woman and the clown tricked us…"
"Yes, the clowns!"
The people began recalling Arael's group, who had disguised themselves as wandering merchants and put on acrobatic acts.
At their side, whether members of the Blue Sky Order or merely ordinary folk, some were doing their best to divert the people's wrath toward Arael's group.
"First, calm yourselves. You, how did you manage to come back to your senses?"
Azadin pointed at those who had once been followers but had regained their sanity.
"That was…"
"The Taoist master restored our minds."
"See? The Taoist master of the Blue Sky Order saved you from your frenzy with his secret arts. Without the strength of the Blue Sky Order, this disaster would have been far worse."
As Azadin openly took the Blue Sky Order's side, its members quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
But since the Blue Sky Order had also committed plenty of misdeeds in the past, others remained skeptical and pressed further.
"Then how did this even begin in the first place?"
"Most who drank the Blue Sky Order's potion turned into monsters, are you truly saying the Order bears no responsibility?"
At that, the Order's members quickly shifted all the blame onto the clowns — that is, Arael's faction who had infiltrated the refugee camp disguised as peddlers.
"It was the clowns who poisoned it! No doubt about it."
"No! I tell you, the Blue Sky Order's potion was tainted from the start!"
The crowd erupted in confusion, grasping at rumors and conspiracies, trembling with unease.
"Everyone, silence!"
Azadin declared, invoking the Emperor's Voice.
The artificial spirit bound to the Emperor's herald magnified Azadin's tone, so that what he spoke reverberated in many layers, resounding as though it were not a single man's voice at all.
"Ah…"
"..."
The crowd fell silent, all eyes fixed on Azadin.
"When the blood of the Yaegas Clan grows thin, the light of the king's virtue wanes, and the might of Jupiter waxes strong, then the blood of the ancient gods, sunk deep into the Netherstrom, begins to boil."
With power drawn from his diaphragm, Azadin proclaimed the prophecy of the Age of Jupiter in a clear, commanding voice.
"Now is the Age of Jupiter. This dreadful incident, the typhoon of Coral Sahar — all of it is wrought by the power of the nether."
There was no lie in these words. Though the Blue Sky Order had indeed spread that potion infused with nether power, ultimately, every calamity had sprung from that very force.
"Fortunately, a strong new king has taken the throne of Coral Sahar. Those who came from there should return, and prepare yourselves for the coming Age of Jupiter."
Azadin then called over the Taoist master of the Blue Sky Order.
"Yes?"
"Choose reliable men, and send them to escort some of the refugees back to Coral Sahar."
If all those who had drunk the Blue Sky Order's potion gathered in one place, it would resemble the ritual gatherings of the Reaper's followers.
In other words, to prevent a recurrence, the members of the Blue Sky Order needed to be dispersed.
"Ah, understood."
The Taoist master had no standing to question Azadin's command.
"But, to move so many people, we'll need provisions and supplies."
"Use the goods the Blue Sky Order has hoarded up until now."
"What? But that won't be enough…"
Azadin clicked his tongue and pulled out money.
He had accumulated a considerable fortune, yet even such a great sum, for one man, proved woefully insufficient when it came to feeding countless mouths.
"Use this as well, to help maintain order among the people."
"Ah, th–thank you."
"And, we intend to head toward Bruma. Could you perhaps provide us with a letter of recommendation, so that if we encounter other members of your Order, we might receive their cooperation?"
"A letter of recommendation? Of c–course, yes. In fact, take this as well…"
The Taoist master handed Azadin a decorated club, as long and thick as a forearm.
"What is this?"
"The club of the Blue Sky Order. It was the symbol of my office. I shall write you a letter, and please, take this too."
"..."
Azadin was momentarily at a loss for words.
'This bastard, is he trying to throw everything away and run? Passing it all onto me? He calls himself a Taoist master, but isn't he just a mid-tier official in some cult? Now he wants to dump this joyless, burdensome position on me as if it were a favor?'
Such doubts arose, yet… thinking of their journey to Bruma, it was wiser to accept.
"If I take this, then what of you?"
Perhaps because he was irritated, Azadin's voice grew edged with thorns.
"I have felt my own inadequacy, and so I yield the office of Taoist master to you."
The Taoist spoke smoothly, shamelessly thrusting the burden onto Azadin, though surely he knew how reluctant Azadin was.
"Taking just this club doesn't make me a Taoist master. Isn't that an office appointed by your religious leader? Can it be so easily transferred?"
"Our Sky Lord commanded that when we feel our insufficiency, we should gladly yield the position. As for the laws and order of the Blue Sky Order, I will remain at your side to assist you."
So at least, this Taoist was not simply planning to pocket the money and vanish.
Azadin glanced back at his companions.
"Well, what do you think? Shouldn't it be fine?"
Shati answered offhandedly.
Do you want me to keep the same chapter-and-dialogue formatting (with line breaks for each line of speech, commas as in Korean) for all further chapters too?
'In truth, since I had deliberately joined the Blue Sky Order, receiving the position of Taoist master is actually welcome. I just never thought it would happen this easily.'
The moment Azadin saw the Blue Sky Order, he had joined as an ordinary member in disguise, intending to probe the organization and use it if possible. But now, suddenly, he was a high-ranking official.
"So, what was your name again?"
"Oh, I am Jiswa. And you are…."
"Did I not introduce myself once already?"
"You said your name was Adan, was it not? But that is an alias, is it not?"
"Why do you think so?"
"Because you are a man who travels armed, with companions, and yet your strength and bearing are extraordinary. My guess is, from the very moment you approached us, you were testing us, were you not?"
In fact, when Azadin's group had first appeared, Jiswa, the Taoist master of the Blue Sky Order, had been suspicious. A group armed and roaming the land, not seeming like merchants — surely they were either Cell Sword Guild mercenaries, or bandits. That was why he had ordered an investigation into another suspicious faction, Arael's group.
"And even knowing that, you hand me the position of Taoist master? Very well. My real name is Azadin."
"You are of the Herald Clan. No wonder you seemed so unusual."
"How did you recognize that I was of the Herald Clan so quickly?"
"Azadin is a name of the Herald Clan, is it not? When the Herald Clan was shipwrecked upon Hubris, the place they first landed was Bruma. Around Bruma, much knowledge still remains of the Herald Clan — or rather, of the Aragasa. If you wish to conceal your identity, it would be best to keep using the alias Adan while in Bruma."
"But, can I, an imperial herald, also serve as a Taoist master of the Blue Sky Order?"
Azadin asked this openly.
Jiswa surely knew that, as an imperial herald, Azadin would not be swayed by the Order's ideology. And yet…
"These are chaotic times, are they not? I do not think it matters."
Though at first Jiswa had doubted Azadin, after surviving this disaster thanks to him, his attitude had completely changed. He seemed utterly smitten with Azadin, desperate to hand over his own rank.
If this had been a count's seat, or a throne, it would have been an admirable case of abdication. But this was not so — this was a mid-tier office of a cult, not even the role of high priest. To Azadin, it felt as though he were being forced to drink from a poisoned chalice.
'I had thought to infiltrate and investigate the Blue Sky Order, but now that the carpet has been laid out so neatly, I find my mood far from pleasant.'
Zebeck felt the same disquiet.
Just a few months ago, Zebeck had been an exemplary holy knight. Now, he found himself in a band that included a herald, an orc necromancer, and now a blood mage of a cult.
Of course, this had been unavoidable due to Sir Zekt's mistakes, and Zebeck bore no doubts about Azadin's character. But to anyone unaware of Azadin's integrity, Zebeck would appear as though he had fallen into corruption.
"In truth, I know nothing of the teachings of the Blue Sky Order. Are you truly saying I can serve as a Taoist master?"
"I know the teachings. And besides… if the rampage of the followers happened, as that woman said, due to structural flaws, then the Blue Sky Order's teachings and its organization are in contradiction. In practicing the teachings, you, who spent your own wealth to aid the refugees, are already more exemplary than most."
As with most cults, the Blue Sky Order's teachings were full of lofty, pleasant words.
Jiswa argued that, since Azadin actually embodied those words through action, it was fitting for him to be Taoist master.
'This one, he is sharper than he lets on. I will have to be cautious.'
Azadin realized that Jiswa had already guessed at his intentions.
Still, Azadin needed the structure of the Blue Sky Order.
So Jiswa knew that, in the end, Azadin would have little choice but to accept the Taoist office, however unreasonable it seemed.
'What is he plotting? Well, I suppose I'll have to see for myself.'
Though suspicious, Azadin accepted Jiswa's proposal.
"Then guide us on the road to Bruma, Jiswa."
"Yes, Taoist Master Azadin."
"You've already decided to call me that? Just Azadin is fine. And once we cross into Bruma, call me Adan."
***
Azadin inherited the Taoist master's position from Jiswa, along with a map of the lands near Bruma.
Not only that, Jiswa chose to personally guide him. With him came several members of the Blue Sky Order, and a portion of the refugees.
"We wish to go to Bruma as well."
"I want to find work in Bruma."
"Here there is neither food nor jobs, and the foul air keeps spreading disease."
When many begged to accompany them, Jiswa looked troubled and turned to Azadin.
Now Jiswa's leader was Azadin, and if the people wished to follow, the decision lay with him.
"Let them come."
Azadin granted permission.
For his own companions, with their formidable might, the road posed little threat. But for the refugees, wild beasts, monsters, and bandits along the way would be dangerous indeed.
"Then let us set out for Bruma. By the way, Jiswa, if I am a Taoist master now, that means I can meet this Sky Lord of yours, yes?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"I look forward to it."
In Bruma, soon to face invasion by the Naga Empire, persuading the leaders of the Blue Sky Order could become a great source of strength.
'Even if not, I must prevent them from becoming followers and rampaging. It will be hard enough to face the Naga assault — if the Blue Sky Order loses control as well, that will be disastrous. Let us hope this Sky Lord is one who can be reasoned with.'
With that thought, Azadin set forth, anticipating his meeting with the Blue Sky Order's leader, the Sky Lord.