Shadow Oath

Chapter 17

[Translator - Jjescus][Proofreader - Gun]

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Chapter 17: Slave and Master (1)

The day Zenri became aware of Ram was one morning during his childhood, when he was summoned by his father.

To be precise, he had undoubtedly seen him countless times as a slave, but this was the day Zenri truly recognized his existence.

It was around the time Zenri was fourteen.

Or was it thirteen?

‘The exact year didn’t matter.

Zenri entered the room where his father awaited him.

“Did you call for me?”

His father just stared at him in silence.

“Father?”

Finally, his father spoke.

“Do you feel anything strange?”

“No, not really.”

“There’s another person in this room. Can’t you see them?”

Thinking this was some sort of hide-and-seek game, Zenri began

Unable to stand on his own, he could only rub his face in the dirt where his blood pooled.

Suddenly, the spot where the wolf had bitten him flared with excruciating pain.

Though it had oddly not hurt until now, the fall seemed to have triggered the agony.

Zenri couldn’t remember the exact moment he was bitten by the wolf.

He remembered the wolf charging, the night sky above him, and then... nothing.

When he woke, he was surrounded by barbarians looking down at him.

All he could recall were the feverish, delirious days that followed.

The barbarian who had brought the axe helped Zenri to his feet but didn’t untie him.

Mounting his horse, the man spoke to Zenri.

“Follow me.”

He spoke in the southern common tongue.

Though Zenri had never seen him before and the man was clearly a barbarian, he had no choice but to obey.

The man rode off on horseback alone.

Zenri was forced to walk.

He had expected at least a cart to carry him, if not a proper carriage.

He had thought he was free, but he wasn’t.

The surrounding darkness made it impossible to tell where he was.

Surely, they were heading toward the Triton army—weren’t they?

Zenri stumbled after the horse, struggling to keep up.

Though the horse walked slowly, Zenri had to move at almost a jog to match its pace.

His breath came in ragged gasps.

‘Why the hell is he just riding off? Couldn’t he let me ride too?’

Zenri wanted to stop and yell at him but was too afraid of what might happen if he did.

He still feared the barbarians might change their minds and drag him back.

He glanced back.

About a hundred paces behind, the barbarians who had been watching him turned and left.

Looking the other way, he saw two Triton soldiers waiting in the distance.

Relief washed over Zenri.

‘I’m saved. It’s over. I survived.’

Throughout his captivity, Zenri had been haunted by the words of the so-called “kind witch” of the village near the Selken estate.

‘Looking at you, young master, Selken’s future doesn’t seem very bright.’

The witch had said this when Zenri, drunk and seeking entertainment, had ordered a village girl to sing for him.

The girl had refused, even bursting into tears.

It was absurd.

All he had done was ask for a song.

He had even tossed her a 1-flin coin as payment.

Sure, he had lifted her skirt a little when he handed her the coin, and stroked her leg with the back of his hand, but that was hardly offensive.

Girls liked being touched like that.

He had maintained his noble dignity the entire time.

Yet, she had begged for forgiveness while sobbing.

Forgiveness for what?

He had done nothing wrong.

Zenri hadn’t even gotten angry at her.

For a lord’s son to show such restraint with a commoner should have made him a hero among the villagers.

But that crazy old crone had gone on to warn him.

You can’t go on living like this, young master of Selken.’

Zenri, drunk and bold, had retorted,

‘If you’re a witch, speak like one. Give me a prophecy, and I’ll pretend to listen.’

‘Very well. Let me put it this way. When the cold mist of the north surrounds you, darkness will descend. And at the end of that darkness lies only a cold death. Change your ways before it’s too late, young master.’

Not wanting to admit he was scared, Zenri had thrown the coin meant for the village girl at the witch.

‘Take this as your payment, you old hag!’

He had laughed it off with his friends, but once home, he was both terrified and furious.

He begged his father to kill the witch.

The old woman had been burned to ashes, leaving no trace.

His father had made sure of that.

‘How’s that, you wicked hag! You’re dead, and I’m alive! Your prophecy was wrong!’

At the end of the plain, the two Triton soldiers waiting turned out to be none other than General Terdin and Ram.

Though they wore helmets and scarves, Zenri recognized them instantly.

‘That slave is standing next to the grand general? Ha! Of course.’

Zenri immediately pieced everything together.

‘That slave stole my glory. He must have taken Mantum’s head to the general and claimed credit. And that’s how he earned his place there.’

What he had feared most had come to pass.

‘I knew it!’

[Translator - Jjescus]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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