The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 124

“Well, actually, this weapon was at the murder scene. It looked good, so I picked it up…”

“That’s a ridiculous excuse. You’re saying the robbers left their weapon behind, and you just happened to pick it up? Didn’t you claim earlier that the weapon had nothing to do with the corpse?”

“Well, isn’t it a waste to just leave a weapon on the side of the road? So, I just picked it up, but I was worried about this misunderstanding, so I ended up… making excuses.”

Even to Azadin, the excuses the Korasar Merchant Guild members were making sounded absurd.

“Sir Guillaume Balte?”

Ultimately, Guillaume Balte, the highest-ranking person present, needed to conduct a makeshift trial to resolve the situation without bloodshed.

“Hmm. Let’s see the letter first. Hand it over.”

Guillaume Balte requested the letter.

“Ah!”

The armed merchants were startled.

“Um, that letter contains our secrets…”

Guillaume Balte subtly glanced at Brand. Brand, excited, shouted,

“How dare you! The Acting Count of Rantaric is trying to investigate your letter to understand the situation correctly and make a fair judgment. Are you merchants now doubting the honor of the Acting Count of Rantaric?”

“…….”

It seemed he had been practicing, as a stream of old-fashioned scolding poured out.

The merchants exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.

‘Huh?’

Azadin noticed a murderous intent in their eyes.

Whatever the letter contained, it seemed to be something that would compel them to kill anyone who saw it, even a knight like Guillaume Balte.

The problem was… Azadin’s group was not small. Even if the Telbarin armed merchants had a numerical advantage, they probably weren’t confident enough to take on a knight and a paladin.

However, they still harbored murderous intent.

‘What are these guys?’

Azadin sensed that these were no ordinary merchants.

‘Since the elf seems to be the leader, should I try talking to him?’

Azadin tried speaking to the elf in the rudimentary Elvish he had learned. When he used the Elvish he had learned from Kazas, the elf was surprised.

“To think there would be someone here who speaks Elvish…”

He replied to Azadin in Elvish.

The people around them were curious about what the elf and Azadin were talking about, but Azadin deliberately didn’t explain to them and continued to converse with the elf.

“Hmm. Very well. Let them show the letter.”

The elf, persuaded by Azadin, ordered his subordinates to show the letter.

“What? But boss…”

“It’s alright. Show it.”

The merchants reluctantly handed their letter to Guillaume Balte. Guillaume Balte saw that the wax seal was indeed broken and stained with blood. The recipient of the letter was Duke Adler.

“Ah.”

Now he understood why these merchants had been so resistant to handing over the letter, even when a knight demanded it.

The letter was a kind of invoice listing the supplies Duke Adler had ordered: bone saws, hooked surgical knives, preservatives, high-purity spirits, opium, and various magical and alchemical ingredients, along with the expected delivery date and unit price.

It also included a request for cooperation when entering the city, as some prohibited items, including opium, were included, suggesting that this was not the first time they had traded with Adler.

“You’ve been trading with Adler. And these items…”

Guillaume Balte handed the letter to Azadin. Azadin frowned as he looked at the letter.

‘These are materials for creating the undead.’

Duke Adler was collecting materials that a necromancer would use. Like Count Garnahaer of Rantaric, Duke Adler was clearly a corrupt noble dabbling in evil black magic.

Guillaume Balte ignored the alchemical and magical ingredients and focused on the drugs.

“Bringing drugs into Rantaric territory so brazenly. Even if Adler requested it, this is something we cannot overlook.”

“So, about that…”

The elf, the leader of the armed merchants, spoke.

“How much would you give me if I sold you Duke Adler?”

“What?”

“The moment you enter Rantaric, you will be killed. I guarantee it.”

The elf said, pointing at Azadin and Jibek.

“You two are probably skilled enough to easily handle any bandits or thugs. I can tell just by your breathing and gait. But under Duke Adler, there are monsters even more powerful than you.”

“…….”

“I can ensure that you capture Duke Adler safely.”

Guillaume Balte was surprised by those words and looked at Azadin.

“What exactly did you say to that elf in Elvish earlier?”

“I just said that no matter what, I wouldn’t hold him accountable…”

However, as soon as Azadin spoke Elvish, the elf seemed to have decided to trust him, showing him evidence that they were trading with Adler, even evidence of drug trafficking, without hesitation.

“First, why are you trying to betray Adler? Is it really just for the money?”

Azadin asked about that point.

“Because I know what he’s buying. I’ve seen some nobles buy things for magical research, or a noble lady buy cosmetics that are good for the skin, or ask for things like the Atla Altar [a type of magical altar], but this is beyond that.”

“Why do you say we’ll die if we enter Rantaric? What makes you so confident?”

“The Herald Clan is attached to Duke Adler. They are all incredibly skilled.”

“Ah…”

“Tsk.”

Azadin and the Korasar Merchant Guild members were taken aback by the Telbarin elf’s praise of the Herald Clan.

“And those Herald Clan bastards are blasphemously… declaring that a new goddess has been born.”

“Goddess?”

“The goddess’s name is Araiel.”

“Haha. Araiel, you say?”

Azadin couldn’t help but laugh the moment he heard those words.

Not only had his own kin become the leader of the rebellious Herald Clan, but now she was claiming to be a god?

Of course, she was projecting her power, spreading her voice everywhere like an emperor. In an era where even the light of the King’s Hallows [sacred artifacts] was weakening and even the angels were losing their power, she alone was rising with a new, vivid power.

If there were those who knew and feared the age of Jupiter, they might willingly worship the newly emerging being, Araiel, as a goddess.

‘The wound… it stings.’

Azadin felt the old wound inflicted by Araiel ache, and he was filled with rage.

That Araiel, who had trampled on his most cherished feelings when he was most tormented and in pain, was now becoming a goddess? He could not tolerate it.

“Hmm. It seems there’s a story there.”

The elf took a step back, sensing the anger from Azadin.

“Well, I don’t know if she’s a real god or not, but it’s true that those guys are really powerful. I’m not so bold as to say I’ve never heard of your goddess or whatever while dealing with them.”

“If you’re so afraid, why would you betray Duke Adler?”

“The Herald Clan is only interested in something that Duke Adler has. If Duke Adler dies, they’ll probably go after what he had rather than try to retaliate against me.”

“Okay. I understand. So, you can get us into Rantaric Castle without being detected by the Herald Clan?”

“Yes. If we disguise you and hide you among our porters, you should be able to enter Rantaric without any problems. However, I can’t guarantee what happens after that.”

Guillaume Balte looked at Azadin to gauge his intentions.

“What do you think?”

“It seems… it seems to be true.”

Azadin realized that Adler had used the Emperor’s treasury as bait to recruit the Araiel faction after hearing what the elf said.

“Then…”

“Before that, just a moment…”

Azadin gestured for the Korasar Merchant Guild members to come aside and asked them directly,

“You guys killed him, right?”

“Hey. Watch your words. Even if we’re heralds, isn’t that too much?”

The merchant guild member protested at Azadin’s words.

“Then what happens if I watch my words? What the elf is saying doesn’t seem to be a lie.”

“Well, it’s true that the handle of this blackjack was slightly embedded in the courier’s head, as the elf said.”

“…….”

“Please understand that we had no intention to kill, as it was the handle of the blackjack that hit him, not the end.”

“So, you were trying to knock him out with the handle, but the hook on the handle accidentally went into the courier’s head? Cracking his skull?”

“Exactly.”

“Haa. Well, it’s settled since you paid for it with money and goods…”

That elf merchant and his subordinates, the armed merchants, were no ordinary people.

The Telbarin Guild was originally known as a slave trader, and they were known for dealing in drugs, smuggling, and overpowering other competitors with force, so it was understandable.

“What’s this about Araiel becoming a goddess?”

“It’s exactly as it sounds.”

“As it sounds?”

“She gives power and protection to her followers. With that, she intends to become a living, manifest god.”

“She…?”

It was clear that the merchants were wary of Araiel. Even though the power of the Herald Clan had not yet been decided, if it was this much, then Araiel’s authority and reputation were truly growing.

‘And… a manifest god strategy. It’s possible…’

Azadin recalled Araiel’s voice.

An artificial spirit that performed a function similar to the Emperor’s voice, but unlike the Emperor’s voice, it had a strong scent of Nether magic [a type of dark magic].

But even that alone was enough power to be called a god.

If she watched over the people, eliminated monsters and beasts to ensure their safety, and distributed goods well to prevent starvation… wouldn’t that be the god that people in this world desired?

“Why did Araiel join hands with Adler?”

“…….”

The merchants did not answer Azadin’s question.

The Herald Clan’s merchant group, the Korasar Merchant Guild, was weighing both the Araiel faction and the Council, trying to join the side that would win. Were they unwilling to give away such information for free while having a foot in both camps?

“Tell me. I’ll cover your damages, won’t I?”

When Azadin handed over gold coins, they finally spoke.

“Duke Adler is said to have the key to the Emperor’s treasury.”

“And he’s also said to be researching powerful Nether magic.”

“Those guys trading with him. Aren’t they the Telbarin Guild, known as smugglers, assassins, and slave traders who will do anything for money?”

“…….”

Azadin couldn’t help but chuckle at those words.

The Herald Clan’s merchant group, the Korasar Merchant Guild, was also involved in assassination and smuggling, wasn’t it? They just didn’t engage in slave trading, but they could look down on others this much just because of that one difference. Amazing.

‘People really can’t see the log in their own eye, but they can see the speck in someone else’s [a common idiom meaning people are quick to judge others for flaws they themselves possess].’

But more than that, it was surprising that the story of the Emperor’s treasury was now circulating even among these people.

“So, the story of the Emperor’s treasury has spread that far. Okay, I understand. So, what do you guys think? About doing what that elf is suggesting?”

“That’s…”

The members of the Korasar Merchant Guild looked troubled. They had a foot in both the Araiel faction and the Council, so they couldn’t heavily favor one side.

However, just from that attitude, Azadin could tell that the elf was at least someone to be trusted.

‘If he were a complete swindler, there would be no reason for them to hesitate to advise me.’

Wasn’t it because they could actually cause harm to the Araiel faction that they were being cautious?