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Chapter 56 – Road to the Empire (8)
Ohber woke up from a relaxing sleep. The moment he opened his eyes, he started gulping down the wine that he had left next to his head.
“Gurgh.”
He felt better now that there was some alcohol in his body. He looked out his window and gave a pleased smile.
“My gate is spectacular today as well!”
He had an amazing view of the gate from his official residence. Not only could he see the village of tents, but he could also see far into the horizon. The moment he opened his windows, a soft wind breezed in.
‘I can’t stop smiling after hearing about how that bastard Donovan was completely beaten.’
He waved his arms around and danced joyously.
“…mun!”
Then, he heard a strange sound as he looked outside the window. It sounded like someone was wailing.
“Are vagrants causing trouble again?”
Ohber washed his face with the water in a basin.
“Captain Ohber!”
A soldier was rapidly knocking on his door. He scowled.
“What is it?”
“P-Please come to the gate right away! Adjutant Grimun is—Urgk.”
The soldier started heaving, as if he didn’t even want to remember it. A chill ran down Ohber’s spine.
There was something that Ohber requested separately from Adjutant Grimun. He ordered him to hire vagrants to teach Donovan a lesson.
‘Damn it, that idiot. Did someone find out that I was behind it? Is this place filled with only incompetent idiots?’
Ohber gathered his clothes and put them on.
“Damn it, you useless bastards! Hurry the fuck up!”
Ohber received help from his aides to put on his armor and quickly rushed to the gate. The closer he got to the gate, the clearer the strange sound became.
“I am G-Grimun. Guurgh. I received Gate Captain Ohber’s orders to…”
It was Grimun’s wailing voice. Ohber’s eyes were wide in shock as he sprinted to the gate entrance.
“What’s going on?!” yelled Ohber. For a second, he was close to losing strength in his knees and falling down.
“C-Captain, p-please save me. Guuuugh,” wailed Grimun.
Adjutant Grimun, the one who employed the vagrants that ambushed Donovan, hung from the pole in a gruesome sight.
The pole was rooted deep into the ground and Grimun was tied to the end of that pole. If Grimun was simply tied to the pole by a rope, Ohber would not have been so surprised.
‘What the hell did they do to a person’s body?’
However, Grimun was folded up. Folded. All of his bones were dislocated and broken. His legs and waist were twisted back so that the soles of his feet were touching his shoulders. His arms were tied together around the pole in a knot, as if they were ropes and tied behind him. When Ohber saw that sight, he realized that Grimun’s bones were completely broken and gone.
“Sir, please. Siiiir…”
It wasn’t just Grimun that was like that. A filthy vagrant was tied on a separate pole right next to him in that same manner. He hung near the top of the pole, also folded up.
They were both alive and had the ability to speak, but that was not how a human should be. It was to the point where death would have been a favorable alternative.
“So the true employer finally appears. Keep talking,” said Urich while hitting the pole. Grimun started screaming, horrified at Urich.
“I am Grimun! I am one of the adjutants of this gate! Under Gate Captain Ohber’s orders, I ordered the ambush of the vice-leader of ‘Urich’s Brothers’, Donovan!
Grimun said the words he was forced to repeat multiple times. The vagrant on the other pole shouted along with him.
“I was employed by Grimun to ambush Donovan! The four of us beat him an inch from death! I received gold coins for my actions! Guuurgh,” wailed the vagrant, snot and tears dripping everywhere. Feces and urine spilled down the pole.
People started to gather more and more. Even the merchants and nobles who were waiting near the gate started to show their faces at the scene. It was an eye-catching sight.
“Human beings are truly tenacious.”
“How is he still alive like that? His waist is bent backwards to the point where his feet reach his shoulders.”
“And his arms! He tied a knot with human arms.”
“How horrifying. I can’t watch this anymore.”
Even these men, who had been through a mountain of hardship, couldn’t help but shake their heads. Chills ran down their spine at what Urich the Barbarian did.
“U…rich.”
The mercenary group gathered at the gate entrance after hearing the news.
They had forgotten about it. Mercenary Leader Urich, the man who shared meals with them, cracked jokes with them, and laughed with them. The man who had a favorable outlook on civilization and even converted his religion. Because they were so close with that part of him, they forgot about his true nature.
‘Urich the Barbarian’.
Even if he speaks Imperial, even if he learns about civilization, and even if he converts to Sol, Urich’s true nature was a barbarian.
Their violence and ethics fell under a different standard than the civilized. Their kind was born and grew in a completely different environment than the civilized. There was no way that his true nature would just change overnight.
Like a herbivore in front of a carnivore, the civilized were stunned after seeing a barbarian’s cruelty.
“You might have converted, but you didn’t forget about your true self, Urich,” said Sven. He lightly chuckled while looking at the hanging men. It was a sight that penetrated straight through his chest. To the point where Sven wanted to scream and start swinging his axe.
“An amazing work. I can’t believe he bent and twisted someone like that without killing them! To the point where I’d pay him to teach me.”
The Northerners were in awe of the mercenary leader’s skills. Urich knew how to efficiently crush and shatter a human’s body. It was an instinctual skill; one that was only acquireable by murderers who had slaughtered countless people.
“Say it again. There are more people here now.”
Urich hit the pole again. Grimun and the vagrant started repeating the same words.
“I am—Gurgh—Grimun, and I received Gate Captain Ohber’s orders—Huaarrgh. Please. Gurgh,” wailed Grimun. It almost sounded like he couldn’t breathe because of his crying. Urich scowled.
“Speak properly. Do you want me to fold you the other way this time? It won’t be too hard, since I’ve already done it to you once.”
Grimun shook his head violently after hearing that.
“I’ll do it! I’ll do it! Please! Watch me! I vow on Sun God Ru’s name that I am telling the truth! If I have lied, my soul will forever wander this world! There was not a single lie in what I said!” yelled Grimun. His loud voice boomed throughout the gate.
“Alright, if it’s this much, enough people have gathered.”
Urich propped the three vagrant heads, which had been hanging on his waist, on the ground. The heads didn’t have relaxed expressions, as if they saw something they shouldn’t have. Those faces showed that they died in horrifying fear.
“Gate Captain Ohber! I have proof here that you hired someone to beat my brother! Do you have anything to say?!” Urich shouted. He unsheathed his sword and planted it on the ground.
‘Damn it, there are too many eyes!’
Ohber scowled. It was too big of a situation to quietly settle it. Merchants, travelers, and even the nobles that travel the Empire had already seen this sight.
“It’s obvious that you couldn’t handle tortue and are giving a false confession, Adjutant Grimun! When did I give you those orders?! Was that not your own personal actions? Maybe you were just excessively loyal. You were always wagging your tail in front of me, begging for my favor!”
Ohber tried his best to pull out of the situation. Grimun glared at him while dripping tears of blood.
“How could you say that to me?! I-I ended up like this because of your orders! I will curse you, Ohber! You fucking bastard! You used me for your personal reveeeeeenge!” howled Grimun.
Unexpectedly, Grimun was furious at Ohber. He did not say a single thing about Urich. The human psyche was a strange thing.
“There must have been a misunderstanding between us, Mercenary Leader Urich! I did not give an order like that! While my relationship with Donovan isn’t good, I, Ohber, am not someone who doesn’t know how to differentiate between public and private affairs.”
Urich picked at his ear. He took a step towards Ohber, and the surrounding soldiers flinched.
“Say that again. On Sun God Ru’s name.”
Ohber flinched. He couldn’t lie on Sun God Ru’s name. Those who lied in Ru’s name were forced to become evil spirits that would eternally wander the world, unable to enter the cycle of the afterlife.
Becoming an evil spirit. That was what all Sol believers were terrified of.
“Are you saying that you can’t trust my words?” said Ohber, furrowing his brows.
“Of course I don’t believe you. Why would I believe a man who’s so fat that he can’t even fit in armor? Do you make promises with pigs?” said Urich.
The people around the gate entrance laughed loudly at his words. Ohber’s face turned a deep shade of red.
‘This bastard is a barbarian! It’s a lie that he’s a believer of Sol. There’s no way a fellow believer would do something as cruel as that,’ Ohber inwardly muttered.
‘I can lie to pagan barbarians. Ru would forgive it as well!’
After a long contemplation, Ohber opened his mouth.
“Urich! I vow this in Sun God Ru’s name! There was not a single lie in my words!”
“Oh? Is that so?”
Urich started to spin his sword after hearing that. Grimun, who was still tied to the pole, started blurting out all sorts of insults.
“Your soul will stay here even after death, Ohber! You bastard! You’re lower than even a beast! That bastard was the one that ordered me! Barbarian! Kill that fucking shameless Ohber! Sun God Ru will see the truth himself!”
Grimun’s life was already over. He was far too gone to survive this. And even if he were able to survive, what would he do with his limbs and waist bent and twisted like that? The only thing that was left in him was boiling revenge, completely filled with malice.
Ohber tried his best to ignore Adjutant Grimun, who was a believer of Sol. If he were to exchange words with Grimun, it would count as lying to a fellow believer.
‘It’s okay. I’m only lying to the barbarian. That damned pagan!’
As he had already lied in front of his fellow believers, Ohber’s rationalization was already filled with contradictions. However, he tried his best to comfort himself with that.
“It seems as if words before the Sun God contradict one another. Ru shall decide who is telling the truth and who is lying. Let us duel. I volunteer as Grimun’s representative!” yelled Urich, arms open. Grimun, whose blood had been dripping from the top of the pole to the floor, was saying to kill Ohber.
“What does a barbarian like you know? To talk about things like that! I can’t even have a conversation with you,” yelled Ohber, hopping from one foot to the other. He had no intention to accept the duel.
“Hold it! How interesting, I shall be the witness to this duel.”
Heavily armed men stepped forth from the crowd. Marked on the armor on top of their clothes was the insignia of the Sol.
“Sun Warriors!’
“It’s the Order of the Sun Warriors!”
The people started murmuring amongst themselves. Five Sun Warriors stepped out of the crowd. It was an unexpected appearance. Urich’s eyes were also wide open as he looked at a familiar face.
“I am Havald of the Order of the Sun Warriors. I shall be a witness to this trial by duel. How could we just ignore something like this when someone lied before Sun God Ru?! Is that not right, everyone?” asked Sun Warrior Havald. He looked at Urich and smiled. The audience screamed in cheers.
“The Sun’s justice!”
“Ru will be behind the honest man!”
The mood shifted to the point where a duel was unavoidable.
Ohber bit his lower lip while looking at Sun Warrior Havald.
‘Why did a Sun Warrior have to show up now? Damn it.’
Sun Warriors were treated as quasi-priests. The Sun Warriors were that knowledgeable about the doctrine and were also pious believers. You couldn’t simply ignore a Sun Warrior’s words.
“If you are innocent, reveal the truth through a duel, right here. Whether it was Adjutant Grimun or you, Gate Captain Ohber, who lied!”
Ohber argued with Havald.
“Sir Sun Warrior Havald! That man was the person that turned my adjutant into that state! My adjutant is only saying things like that because he went mad from the torture! You must arrest that barbarian right away!”
“Sir Ohber, if your words are true, you will win this duel. Ru will assist you,” responded Havald. He gave a short bow to show respect. Ohber was on the verge of hurling insults at him.
‘This insane religious fanatic! You want to do a trial by duel?’
Ohber looked around the gate. They already caught too much attention. Nobles, who were wearing fancy clothing, started whispering to each other.
Tremble.
Ohber’s fists were trembling. He called out the strongest, most impressive soldier amongst his defense guards.
“Raymond! Become my representative!” Ohber shouted. A sharp-eyed man stepped forth from the soldiers. He was a warrior in good shape.
“Raymond! Raymond! The 12th Gate’s Hero!”
The soldiers cheered Raymond’s name. It seemed like he was quite the renowned soldier.
“Fight in my stead, wearing my full plate armor, Raymond!” said Ohber as he walked to the back of the gate. He was calling a squire to help quickly take off his armor.
“The price for fighting as your representative is fifty gold coins, Captain,” said Raymond. The price that he asked for was 5 million cil. Ohber scowled before nodding.
“I got it! I understand, so please win!”
“Of course. You know of my skills, do you not? There is no way I would lose to a barbarian that doesn’t know about swordsmanship,” said Raymond while cooly swinging his sword. He was a man that properly learned swordsmanship as a squire of a noble house. If only the master he served didn’t die when he was a squire, Raymond might have had his skills recognized and been awarded with the title of knight.
As Ohber and Raymond prepared for battle, Havald said something to Grimun.
“Grimun, please call your representative. As this duel shall be a battle of truth between you and Sir Ohber.”
Grimun let out a dying grunt and looked to Urich.
‘He might be the bastard that made me like this, but he’ll also be the person that gets revenge on the captain who threw me away. Win this duel and die from a severe injury.’
Urich received a curse-filled glare from Grimun.
“Leave it to me. I will fight for your truth! I can’t believe he was someone who would throw away their subordinate like that. I can’t forgive it!”
Urich laughed and gave a thumbs up to Grimun.
“…Die. All of you. Bastards,” muttered Grimun, depressed. He couldn’t feel anything below his twisted back. He could only feel that he didn’t have even a day left to live.