Shepherd Wizard-Chapter 161.1
Translator: Pai_
The army of the House Zahar arrived at the designated location just as the sun had completely dipped below the horizon.
Osel, who had been having an early dinner with Turan, frowned as he saw the dust rising from afar.
“They’re only coming now, quite late indeed. Do they think we’re fools?”
“To be fair, considering the distance we both had to travel to meet, it’s not terribly late.”
The army of the House Parsha led by Turan had arrived in just four days, thanks to the well-paved roads and the heavy deployment of magical beasts, but for the army of Lavitas to cross the South Sea and reach here must have taken them close to two or three weeks.
And the Zahar army, which had probably come from the eastern side of the Enril Desert far away, must have marched for at least a month and a half.
Moreover, thanks to intermittent reconnaissance through Bije, Turan knew they had deliberately adjusted their pace to arrive at this particular time.
Indeed, for the nobles of the night like the Zahars, there was probably no better time than this to meet an intimidating adversary.
“Then I suppose it’s about time…”
“Yes, let’s have them move to the rear.”
Turan and Osel each ordered their forces, excluding about a dozen men near the table where they were dining, to pull back roughly a hundred meters.
Understanding the intent, the Zahar army also came to a stop at a similar distance, and only a dozen or so of them approached.
“Masks, how arrogant.”
Upon seeing them, Osel muttered in displeasure.
As he said, every approaching Zahar noble was wearing a plain, featureless mask.
Just like the ones Turan had worn when he hunted Ymir while posing as a Night Hunter's underling.
Wasn’t it one of the signature combat styles of the House Zahar to repeatedly use concealment to hide or reveal themselves while wearing masks, misleading their opponents about their identities?
In that sense, the very act of approaching with masks on could only be interpreted with a degree of ill intention. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Perhaps sensing the discomfort, the one at the front of the group took off his mask and bowed respectfully.
“Pardon us, esteemed
heads of the two noble houses. This is a tradition of Zahar, so we ask for your understanding.”
The one who had removed his mask was none other than Talis, younger brother of the House Zahar head and Turan’s grandfather.
Seeing his face, Osel appeared perplexed and glanced between Turan and him before saying,
“I’ve heard you resembled each other, but this is... truly something.”
"You needn't be so concerned. After all, we never saw each other's faces until I was fully grown."
Turan whispered softly, and instead of responding to Talis’s words, he merely gestured with arrogant indifference.
No one failed to understand the meaning behind it, it meant that someone of your stature is unworthy of my words, bring out your master.
For a high-ranking noble of a great house, and one of the few true power holders, this might have seemed like a humiliating situation.
However, unlike Jemel Carmine who would have flared up openly in such a moment, Talis simply smiled politely and inclined his head lightly toward someone standing beside him.
A tall man, at least a head taller than the other Zahar nobles, removed his mask.
A face lined with wrinkles, just shy of what would be considered old age, around sixty years if measured by common standards.
With a cheerful smile, the head of House Zahar, Haroon Zahar, spoke.
“We’ve exchanged a few letters, but it’s our first time meeting in person! A pleasure to meet you, I am Haroon Zahar.”
***
