Chapter 22 – Astra Follower 3

“Are they the mercenaries you spoke of?”

Derek frowned.

“It looks like they are trying to enter the village, take over, and plunder. Which means….”

They haven’t realized who stole their staff. That was why it was clear that they wanted to dominate the town to thoroughly investigate it.

“There aren’t many of them, but they managed to break through the gate? Isn’t this a bit shocking? If not… did the Heavenly King’s blood awaken in the count’s illegitimate son?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then it has to be the Kurt clan. They attacked the town because they assumed they had a good chance of winning, right? Then you should probably escape now.”

Derek spoke calmly.

As expected of a former messenger. Although he was forced to retire because of his defeat against Arael, he had excellent judgment.

“Then I will act separately.”

“No, before that… hand over the paper.”

“No.”

“Do you think I will steal your merit?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“Well, there is that… If you take the copy of the book, wouldn’t you become a target for those who use tracking magic??”

“That’s not a problem.”

“Not a problem, you say? You will fight, then? The merchants of the Korasar Peddler Guild showed their true colors. If those kinds of rumors spread, the merchant guild you worked so hard to build would crumble. Am I wrong?”

In the caravan at the moment were two former messengers, Derek himself, and two people who had finished their training.

However, the guild they were a part of now was a merchants guild. There was no reason for them to show that they were able to fight. Even more, if they showed that they were related to the Messenger Clan, it would only result in damages for them. The guild had spent an immense effort to rise to this level.

“You.”

Derek was furious at Azadine’s words because he was right.

If he received the book now, there was a chance that his men would have to fight. This would inevitably lead to the identity of his guild becoming exposed.

“I will serve as bait, so do not worry too much.”

Azadine said this and headed down to where the servants were walking around.

“It hasn’t been long since I dropped off my laundry, so I need new clothes. I’ll just take them, alright?”

While Azadine was packing his equipment, Mediam and Ismail brought over their goats, who had received new horseshoes.

“What is happening? I was having a good rest.”

“You two, get your food from the table in that tent.”

Azadine pointed towards the tent where he and Derek had been eating.

“Food in this situation?”

“There are so many people starving to death in this world. You shouldn’t be taking food so lightly. Go take it.”

As Azadine said this, two armed men approached the wagons.

“Now, now, calm down, everyone! We cannot allow you to leave the village!”

“If you stay still, nothing will happen. Everyone calm down, please.”

Despite trying to speak calmly, the two men carried a mace and longsword.

‘No, they’re acting like this?’

Azadine knew how many mercenaries were under Tarki’s command.

They had conscripted a few youths from some villages and bulked up their numbers, but there were only around 20 of them. It was strange to send troops out to subdue the caravans when they should be taking over the gates.

Besides, just two of them?

Unsurprisingly, the merchants of the guild fought back.

“Yah! I will handle it.”

“Okay.”

Guards from the other merchant groups surrounded the mercenaries.

“Did you think merchants would be able to avoid conflict? Do not make me laugh.”

“How amusing, you bastards attacked the gate! We can kill you right now!”

The merchant guards attacked the mercenaries.

It was five against two.

By the numbers, who would win was clear, but then something unexpected happened.

Puak!

The guards who were attacking were blown away. The mercenaries swung their weapons, and when the weapons clashed, the steel became bent, and the guards flew through the air.

“Ah, this.”

“No weapon can withstand this power.”

The mercenaries threw away their broken sword and mace, took new weapons from the fallen guards, and attacked the rest of them.

“W-wait!”

“I surrender!”

“Ack!”

Even the guards who surrendered and begged for their lives were killed instantly.

“Eik?!”

“O-Oh my!”

The merchants had gone out for the confrontation without much thought. The mercenaries simply laughed.

“Relax now. We will not kill the merchants.”

“Yes, but um…”

“Uh.”

The mercenaries, who had been talking, suddenly stood blankly. Their eyes lost focus as they looked into the air before turning to the fallen corpses.

“What is it?”

“… I feel hungry.”

They fell to the ground, crawled to the corpses on all fours, and jumped

And…

Bite!

They began to consume the bodies.

“Kuaaauk!”

The screams of the women in the merchant caravan filled the air.

Screams began to come from all around the town.

The mercenaries, who had spiders implanted in their bodies, possessed terrifying strength and could slaughter the soldiers instantly. However, none of them could overcome their hunger and began consuming humans.

They had first jumped on the corpses and bit off flesh from there, but then they began to consume more and more as their hunger became unbearable. The amount of meat consumed meant that a normal human mouth could not handle its texture.

The moment they realized this, the mercenaries began to transform. Their bodies changed as two legs with sharp claws grew from them. New long legs, resembling an exoskeleton, grew from their backs to make it easier for them to tear apart the corpses and consume them.

Their jaws split open to make their mouths wider. Sharp teeth also began to grow, allowing them to chew and swallow meat more quickly. A greater sense of hunger then also rose from within.

“Meat….”

“More meat!”

They looked around for things to sate their cravings for meat as their eyes slowly transformed into that of a spider’s.

“Eik…”

The merchants were frozen in fear as the humans in front of their eyes began to transform into abominations. The two mercenaries had transformed into hideous monsters before anyone could realize it, and they were now consuming the corpses.

“I will use this.”

Seeing this, Azadine picked up a javelin and threw it.

Puak!

It penetrated through the spine of one of the mercenaries preoccupied with consuming the corpses. It was a shocking injury that should cause instant death to the target as it tore apart the nervous system.

But this mercenary didn’t die.

“What is that?”

Even with a spear stuck in them, the mercenary reacted as if it hadn’t hurt much and pulled out the spear with his hand. Countless spiders began to crawl around and filled the wound.

“Who are you?”

The mercenary was so preoccupied that he didn’t even mention the javelin that had been thrown. No, even if he did see it, he couldn’t see Azadine.

As soon as Azadine had thrown the javelin, he had turned to hide behind the wagons.

“It’s the descendant of Astra, the Spider Queen of the Kurt Clan.”

Derek gave this warning to Azadine as he moved behind the wagon.

“I realize that now since they look like spiders. You stay still, Derek. Pretend to be a helpless merchant.”

Azadine replied to the warning and began moving from wagon to wagon.

“Their bodies are no different from corpses now. Those small spiders are making up their nervous system through magic. Be careful, Azadine. Even though you are a loser, you are still Aragasa’s 108th messenger.”

Your failure would disgrace the clan.

That was what Derek meant.

“Don’t mention it!”

Azadine picked up a roll of cloth from a nearby wagon, stood on the roof of a wagon, and then jumped down. He spread the cloth in the air, attacked the two mercenaries, and…

“Huh!”

He hit the ground with both legs and landed his attack on the cloth.

A high shot, followed by a low shout.

Pung!

A sound akin to an explosion filled the air.

The mercenaries could not ignore this attack from Azadine. Even if they were spiders, Azadine’s attack had been done using the cloth as a medium and had hit their whole body equally.

But that wasn’t enough.

Chak!

New arms and spider legs began to grow from their bodies and pierced the cloth as they aimed for Azadine.

Azadine was forced to back away, but the mercenaries began moving and tore away the cloth on them.

“This is bad.”

Azadine mumbled.

“Here!”

Mediam quickly pulled out a torch from a wagon and threw it. At that moment, the mercenaries screamed in pain from the heat as the tiny spiders were vulnerable to flame. The small bugs could be burnt thoroughly with just a little heat.

‘I know, but it isn’t that easy to just light a fire.’

The merchant wagons formed a wall in this caravan camp. If one caught on fire, it would become a mess. As Azadine hesitated, Ismail brought out several more torches and threw them after lighting them.

“Kuaaaak!”

“Ack! What is this!”

The mercenaries panicked and tried to escape, but Azadine forced them closer.

“Go there and stay warm.”

The spiders tried to escape the mercenaries’ bodies as they were shocked by the heat, leaving their safe house and food source in their panic.

However, if they tried to hide inside another body, they would dig into the flesh of a human who had not yet mutated, causing rejection and pain.

“How is it? Are we worth it?”

Mediam asked Azadine.

“It isn’t over yet, be careful.”

Saying this, Azadine set a torn piece of cloth on fire. The other merchants had brought something to burn and threw them. Meanwhile, they were also digging the ground with shovels and gathered sand to smother the flame from spreading more.

In the end, the two mercenaries burned up without much struggle.

“Urgh, what is this?”

The merchants were horrified at the sight of the burned-up monsters. Humans with spider legs growing from their backs were burning. It was a horrifying sight to witness.

“But who are you? Uh?”

When the merchants turned to question Azadine, he had already vanished.

“W-what?”

“Such strange people.”

“What about my help? Was it right on time? You don’t have to thank me. Whenever I…”

As Mediam followed him with a smile, Azadine gave her praise.

“Good job. After all, we are people who met in the town of Manita.”

“That again. Can’t you just accept me as your servant now?”