Jiswa didn't hand over the Taoist seat to Azadin just because he liked him. He deliberately did so to draw someone as powerful as Azadin into their struggle.
And Azadin himself needed that.
The elder council and Arael were both beginning their maneuvers toward the Bruma Kingdom. To counter this, Azadin needed organizational strength—even if it meant persuading such a cult-like group.
"Hmm. Originally, I just wanted to serve tea to travelers and spend a pleasant time together."
Gimela sighed, disappointed that things hadn't gone as she expected.
"Now, would anyone still drink the tea you serve? After what happened at Adirof?"
Azadin said this, yet still took a seat at the table.
"But, aside from you, who's that muscular handsome man?"
"Scott Mcgreen."
"Really? Hm. Handsome indeed. Would you perhaps be interested in a Bruma-style oil massage?"
"..."
Scott turned to Azadin after hearing Gimela's blatant proposition.
"What? Are you two lovers?"
Realizing Scott had sought Azadin's approval first, Gimela asked in surprise.
"Of course not. He's asking me for a strategic judgment. Whether there's any benefit to be gained from sleeping with you. But honestly, you've come out here with a child in tow, and yet your head is overflowing with thoughts of adultery."
"This much is common in the Bruma court. This child too will eventually come to know such pleasures."
Although Azadin reproached her, his words had no emotional impact on Gimela. Perhaps in Bruma this truly was a trivial matter—or maybe it was just her outlook—but she clearly felt no guilt at all about adultery.
"It just so happens today is a safe day, so I thought I'd relieve a bit of lack of exercise. Really not interested? You must've come from a long journey—this would refresh your mood and ease your body's fatigue."
"Let me be clear, madam. I am not fond of the kind of physical activity that builds muscles."
"…I suspected as much when I heard the name Mcgreen—you're an Orc, aren't you?"
Hearing Scott dismiss muscle training, Gimela realized he was indeed an Orc.
"Of course. These muscles, this intellect—what race but the Orcs could shine with such qualities?"
At his words, Gimela licked her lips.
"They say Orcs have incredible stamina."
"Enough."
Azadin cut between them. Even if both parties consented, even if such things were common in Bruma, he could not allow adultery to be flaunted so openly in front of a child.
"Anyway, we came because we have matters to discuss with you."
"Discuss? What matters?"
"The Nagas will soon attack the Bruma royal castle, just as Coral Sahar was attacked. Meanwhile, in the north, the Ogres are already launching wave after wave of assaults. And behind it all stands the Herald Clan."
Azadin carefully explained the divisions within the Herald Clan, their ambitions, and what had actually occurred at Coral Sahar, trying to persuade Gimela.
"My goodness. You're of the Herald Clan? Amazing. To be the Second Herald—that's an incredibly high position, isn't it?"
When he revealed his identity as a member of the Herald Clan, Gimela expressed astonishment.
"Could you take off your helmet and show me your face? With that fine voice, I bet you're handsome."
This woman… We're talking about the nation's fate, yet all she can think about is this…
Annoyed, Azadin nonetheless removed his helmet and revealed his face.
"Oh my. Such a rare handsome man—what a pity. Still, your body is quite sturdy. Not as much as an Orc, but you have muscles… Say, would you be interested in a Bruma-style oil massage too? If you don't mind, you could even join that Orc and another concubine I know."
"Not the time for this. Haa…"
Azadin sighed at Gimela's inability to take matters seriously.
"Looks like the target might be Korasar, but before that, this place will be invaded. So, persuade Count Kimalhaji to send part of his forces north and part to support Bruma. And also convince the Azure Sky Order's Sky Lord to abandon pointless ambitions and grudges against Korasar, and instead cooperate to defend Bruma."
"Well, I appreciate you revealing your identity and all, but you need to think of our side too."
"Your side?"
"Yes. Truthfully, including Kimalhaji, the entire Bruma Kingdom was already planning to invade Korasar. Now, if someone from Korasar says monsters are coming, so forget war and focus on defense, do you really think anyone will listen?"
"Even after seeing Coral Sahar fall, they can't realize the danger?"
"On the contrary, they'll think now is the perfect opportunity, while Coral Sahar is in disarray. Besides, isn't the one who claimed Coral Sahar's throne a woman from the Herald Clan? And you too are of the Herald Clan. Sure, you say you belong to neither faction and claim to be a third power… but who could trust that?"
"..."
"So, I'd like to make you a proposal."
"A proposal?"
"Yes. Meeting my father—the Sky Lord—with just that information won't convince him. But if you follow my proposal, you might."
"What proposal?"
"You should plunder the Azure Sky Order's holy land—our sanctuary."
"…The sanctuary where your father was struck by lightning?"
"Yes. Where the Nether god, Grimslawn's body lies. If you steal that, and you obtain Grimslawn's sacred relic, then Father won't be able to dismiss you. Once the Azure Sky Order moves, the King of Bruma won't be able to ignore it either. Right now in Bruma, the Azure Sky Order has overtaken the King's Church and the Knights of Salvation, becoming the dominant faith."
"Grimslawn's body… What exactly is it?"
"In a swamp lies a fragment of Grimslawn's great tree. Father once rested upon it, and was struck by lightning, becoming its servant. Many times since, attempts were made to cut and move that body to Bruma—but each time Nether monsters appeared and thwarted it."
"If I bring back that body, can I truly exert control over the Azure Sky Order?"
"Perhaps. Still, wouldn't it be impossible for a mere human? Even the warriors and Taoists of the Azure Sky Order all tried and failed. But if the Herald Clan truly are soulless blasphemers, Divine King Slayers who killed the divine kings—wouldn't it be possible? And you are the Second Herald, aren't you? That means you're among the strongest of the Herald Clan, isn't it?"
"Hmm."
Azadin frowned at Gimela's words.
She was trying to use him. Yet even if he spoke to others besides her… it seemed unlikely anyone would be persuaded.
The throne of Coral Sahar had been taken by the Herald Clan.
So, if Azadin introduced himself as one of the Herald Clan, the Korasar Kingdom would only believe that the Herald Clan—who had already swallowed Coral Sahar—were spouting nonsense to buy time.
The Nagas weren't fools. Would they really repeat in Bruma what had already happened at Coral Sahar, only for others to reap the spoils? Of course not.
"I'll think about it for now. But could you perhaps give me a chance to meet Count Kimalhaji?"
"My husband? Well… you won't gain much by meeting him."
"Still, introduce me."
"I'm telling you, not seeing him and just doing as I say is best."
"…Hey, Komosal. You're also a Taoist of the Azure Sky Order. Couldn't you get me an audience with the Count?"
"As the lady says. The Count is a man filled with ambition toward Korasar, and he's not someone who'd abandon that ambition with a few words."
Jiswa also agreed.
"Yes. The Count… persuasion won't work on him. Not unless it's pillow talk."
"Hm? Pillow talk?"
"The Count, well… he is a sodomite."
"..."
"He'll fancy an Orc."
"Aha. I see. Scott—good. Time to persuade him thoroughly."
"No, Captain…"
Scott clicked his tongue at Azadin's sudden change of attitude.
***
Count Kimalhaji gladly received Azadin's group.
Surrounded by muscular men, he lay reclining on his bed with a smile.
"Well, well, what a splendidly muscular man."
The Count smacked his lips as he looked at Scott.
"..."
Apparently, Scott's popularity was exploding here.
Azadin repeated to the Count everything he had said to Gimela, but the Count's reaction was lukewarm at best.
"It's not that I don't believe you. I see that you truly think the Herald Clan will also invade Bruma. But couldn't that be disinformation? Right now, the King's Church is attacking Coral Sahar. Of course they can't allow the Herald Clan to hold the throne."
"But even if the King's Church intervenes now—"
"The Herald Clan won't have that much leeway either. They'll be busy just defending Coral Sahar. And after that, if the King's Church judges it impossible to retake it by themselves, then naturally they'll permit the neighboring nations to form a united kingdom. And as for Bruma—this land is not the savage wilderness northerners imagine. Yes, we suffer from malaria, but even so, our rice and beans support an immense population, and our gold mines are abundant."
To outsiders, Bruma was dismissed as a black land, an untamed frontier plagued by disease, jungle, and the lurking Naga Empire. But in truth, among the Eight Kingdoms, Bruma possessed the second largest territory, with a massive population and formidable economic power.
Without such benefits, there would be no reason to endure the endemic diseases and live here.
Thus, the nobles who held Bruma's lands carried both pride and a kind of inferiority complex.
Their rule, their territorial administration, was never given proper recognition—and so their desire to expand their influence burned all the hotter.
"So then… that companion of yours. Has he considered seeking new pleasures of the flesh?"
The Count seemed more interested in Scott's body than in Azadin's warnings.
***
In the end, persuading the Count proved fruitless.
As Gimela had suggested, if Azadin wanted to wield influence in Bruma under the current circumstances, it seemed faster to trample the Azure Sky Order's holy land, seize Grimslawn's "Swamp Elder Tree" body, and use it to persuade the Sky Lord himself.
"Haa… suddenly, I despise everything."
Azadin was bitterly disappointed with the rulers of Bruma, who ignored the looming threat of the Naga Empire.
No matter if the people perished—their ambitions always came first.