The Shepherd Alone on the Hill is a Genius Wizard-Chapter 116: The Thunder Lord’s Heir (2)
Like during the Black Spirit subjugation force’s departure, there was a display of power as clouds gathered in the perfectly clear sky and thunder rumbled.
The vassals who witnessed this fragment of mighty power stepped back and nodded.
"If, if the head makes such a concession..."
"That would be satisfactory."
If he had simply tried to intimidate them by showing force, they wouldn’t have submitted due to their pride, but Badal showed his power while also respecting them with a proposing attitude and creating an escape route.
To this, though the vassals showed somewhat disgruntled expressions, they couldn’t openly push back anymore.
"Hey, is this okay? The atmosphere seems off."
Though Solif quietly asked Turan that, Turan couldn’t answer his question.
This was because he had intuited the change occurring inside Badal who showed an energetic appearance unlike before.
’That is...’
The moment Badal stepped forward properly and used mana, something emerged between the separately divided lightning clouds and fist.
The hammer and anvil, the symbol of the artificer bloodline same as the Berk house right beside them.
The clenched fist raised that hammer and struck the anvil with a bang, and the lightning and wind that started there whirled madly inside Badal.
Turan could easily guess what this meant.
’Thunder Lord...’
One who wields wind and lightning while holding a giant hammer.
The phenomenon occurring in Badal’s body now was exactly expressing the form of the Thunder Lord, the great Prea god-folk whom Arabion worshipped as their founder.
The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.
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After Badal, who had shown one display of force, withdrew again into the appearance of a powerless old man, the vassal group finally reached an appropriate compromise after several more hours of discussion with the elders.
As the head had originally promised, they received a promise that the middle-aged faction nobles including Kadram would be temporarily stripped of their real power and strictly investigated including nobles from vassal houses, and that no disadvantages would be given using this gathering and show of force as an excuse.
To Turan, this was probably the most realistic best outcome possible.
Since there was practically no possibility of Arabion being completely overhauled anyway, at least with the middle-aged faction half neutralized and the vassal group’s demands achieved, House Berk wouldn’t be in immediate danger.
In contrast, the faces of the Berk house nobles who returned to Zabilin weren’t very bright.
After all, Meisa, their relative and next head of Arabion, had run away or gone missing, and they had directly confronted their lord house Arabion.
Though they had agreed to overlook this, it was naturally difficult to feel at ease after getting on the bad side of those above.
Even after returning to House Berk, Turan didn’t discuss the existence of the Thunder Lord with Solif and Asiz.
Having confirmed that the opponent truly wielded divine power, he was reluctant to mention it in detail from a relatively close distance.
Fortunately, the two understood when he said he would explain later when it was safer.
A few days later, as expected, Arabion’s investigation team came looking for Turan.
"The wandering noble of barrier caster bloodline, Turan. Is that right?"
"Yes."
One of Meisa’s few outside friends who happened to visit nearby a few weeks before the incident and even sent a letter.
Moreover, someone with excellent mana and magic skills.
Looking at this information laid out, he was certainly an extremely suspicious person.
Though officially it was just suspicion of whether he was a collaborator with Zahar’s schemes.
Of course, their investigation soon hit a wall.
"He was flying around the sky riding that swing pulled by the black eagle?"
"Yes, I saw him myself."
"A week ago too?"
"That’s right."
This was because not only did city people encounter Solif acting as Turan, but the house servants also testified to seeing Turan every day.
Thanks to Asiz spreading the story in advance.
Of course, if they had captured and tortured them, some might have confessed, but was Arabion in any position to dare do that now?
They even confirmed how strong and fast Turan’s black eagle Bize was, but the clever Bize showed a weak appearance before the investigation team, not even using a tenth of her usual strength.
"Bize, faster! I said fly as fast as you can!"
Even when Turan on the swing sharply scolded her, seeing Bize flying while struggling and panting, the investigation team had to acknowledge that this black eagle wasn’t particularly useful for escape.
Though masu were generally smarter than ordinary animals, it was difficult to imagine she was perfectly coordinating with her master and ignoring orders.
Only after finally proving he was a noble of barrier caster bloodline did the investigation team acknowledge Turan’s lack of suspicion and withdraw.
If there was one more thing realized in that process...
’As expected, their connection with Zahar isn’t as strong as I thought.’
If Arabion’s middle-aged faction had strong ties with Zahar, someone among them should have recalled his father’s or grandfather’s face upon seeing Turan’s face or portrait.
The fact that they didn’t meant either they hadn’t secured the faces of Zahar nobles or even if they had met directly, it wasn’t enough to be familiar with their faces.
Though he wanted to infiltrate their main house again for reconnaissance if possible, it would probably be difficult to do it twice.
Given what he had done at the end, they would have surely recognized the existence of magic devices that could forge faces and voices.
After staying about a month longer, Turan finally expressed his intention to leave the house to Midela.
Considering he had been staying under the excuse of meeting Meisa, it was rather late if anything, so Midela expressed her gratitude to him.
This was because she knew Turan had stayed to help increase their numbers to withstand Arabion’s pressure.
"Well then, shall we go?"
"I never wanted to ride this damn swing again."
Together with Solif who grumbled about being sick of riding the swing for days, Turan left House Berk at midnight while riding the swing.
Since Bize could now fly at an altitude where they would only appear as dots from the ground, there was no chance of anyone reading their movements.
Past the Dakein Plains, through the forest area slowly being rebuilt by pioneers, across the wasteland, and to the Siraf Wetlands.
Though it had become heavier from making the swing sturdier than before, they were able to reach the hot spring area with just three or four days of flight.
"...Turan?"
"It’s been a while, Meisa."
Seeing Meisa after a couple months, she was taking care of some baby monkey, but seeing that not much flesh had been added to her face and body, it seemed she had failed to eat food on her own.
Considering how rapidly she had gained weight when directly injected into her stomach, she must not have eaten much at all to be in this state.
"How has life been here?"
"Good. Aikul has treated me well."
The Monkey King Aikul, master of the hot spring area, snorted with a "hmph" at Meisa’s words.
Unlike his rough attitude toward Turan in the past, he treated Meisa quite gently, making one wonder if he simply liked women.
"What are you glaring at, man?"
Seeing him show dissatisfaction towards Solif, this suspicion grew even stronger.
After briefly exchanging greetings like that, Meisa asked with a somewhat anxious expression.
"How did House Berk fare? How is aunt?"
During her month here, their safety was probably what she had worried about most.
While Turan and Solif were top-level nobles who wouldn’t have trouble taking care of themselves, the others were relatively weak and had much to protect.
The reason she hadn’t complained about the torment she endured was also because she feared House Berk would be crushed under Arabion’s authority.
Turan carefully explained to such a Meisa what had happened in the Dakein Plains after she left.
"So, you’ll be safe for now. At least while external tensions with Zahar are maintained."
"Thank goodness..."
A bright smile spread across Meisa’s face as she heard the explanation.
It seemed she had been quite worried during her time here, half-confined to this hot spring area.
As she nodded in agreement that things had worked out well, she suddenly hugged Turan tightly.
Though she had gained some weight from before, she was still so skinny that he barely felt any weight.
"Last time I was too disturbed... After coming here, I realized I hadn’t said this. Thank you, truly thank you. For getting me out of that hell."
Turan pondered how to respond before patting Meisa’s back a few times.
