The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 160

#161. The Potion of Malaria 4

“There are so many refugees here. With this many mosquitoes, epidemics are bound to spread.”

“That’s right. That’s what makes the situation so dire.”

The scribe nodded and then asked Azadin, “Brother, what is your name?”

“I am Adan.”

Azadin gave a false name. The messenger clan, the Aragas, had mixed blood with the Hybrids, and their names varied greatly. However, Azadin’s name was rooted in a very old Aragas tradition, so he decided to use a pseudonym to conceal his origins.

“Brother Adan, as you can see, everyone is in a difficult situation right now. Amidst this chaos, our Blue Banner Gang is protecting the refugees and fighting off bandits and monsters.”

Due to the environment the refugees were in, diseases such as malaria, dysentery, and fever, all endemic to Butuma, were rapidly spreading among them.

Among the refugees, people wearing blue banners were walking around, distributing something.

“Here! The Blue Banner Gang’s medicine! It is the grace of the Heavenly Lord. If you take this, you will be cured of any disease, be it malaria or dysentery!”

Azadin was taken aback by that claim.

According to the pharmacology passed down to the messengers, the only medicine that could work for all diseases was a drug. A strong painkiller could alleviate the pain of any disease, but it could not cure the disease itself.

‘Is it a drug? But I sense a faint magical power?’

[It’s Nether magic.]

The Emperor’s voice answered instead.

‘Nether magic?’

[That’s the power I feel from that medicine. Not only that, but I can sense the power of the Nether latent in many people in this area. They are likely the ones who took the medicine.]

The Emperor’s voice was laced with warning.

[As troubled times approach, false prophets are swarming. Be careful. Taking the medicine won’t immediately lead to addiction, but don’t readily accept the magic of the Nether.]

‘That’s a serious problem.’

Just then, the scribe who was leading the way stopped.

“Well, we’re here, Brother Adan. It would be best to be careful with your words from this point on.”

“Are we meeting the cult leader?”

“The cult leader isn’t here, but the Taoist [a religious leader or philosopher in some Eastern traditions] who is in charge of proselytizing in Adirof is.”

“Taoist….”

“Please put down your weapons.”

“Understood.”

Azadin laid down his weapons and proceeded to the audience hall with the Taoist.

*********

The audience hall resembled a field army camp, with several large tents erected. However, since it was built in front of Baron Adirof’s castle, it was clear that the current acting Baron Adirof and the Blue Banner Gang had a close relationship.

“This place is….”

“The acting Baron is also showing a deep interest in the gospel of our Blue Banner Gang.”

The members of the Blue Banner Gang boasted, but Azadin smiled wryly.

‘Well, no matter what, a pseudo-religion is rampant in this area, so they wouldn’t want to ruin your mood. The acting Baron is just an administrative official, so there’s no way they would fight to the death with you, right?’

The Taoist was a noble-looking person in his 20s, with an elegant appearance that made him look like a merchant or a scholar. His androgynous appearance made one wonder if he was a woman disguised as a man.

“First, take off your helmet. Won’t you show your face? How can I know what kind of person you are if you talk with your helmet on?”

“I apologize. I only hid it because it was a disgusting sight.”

When Azadin said that and removed his helmet, the Taoist, as well as the surrounding Blue Banner Gang members, were startled.

“Huh?”

“E, eyes?”

“Amazing. Were you blind? But how?”

“I am using magic to replace my eyesight.”

“Ah, a magician. Amazing. I heard you were talented, but I never thought you would be a magician. How can you be a magician and act with a Holy Knight?”

“That Holy Knight was also hesitant because of the recent anomalies happening all over the Kingdom of Corasar. Moreover, he had an incident with his superior and was expelled from the Order.”

“Ah, I see.”

When they heard that there was an incident with his superior, everyone seemed to understand.

“Then, will you listen to the teachings of the Blue Banner Gang? What does the Blue Banner Gang follow, and what goals do they have?”

“Before that….”

The Taoist opened his mouth, looking slightly embarrassed.

“As you can see around you, people are sick and starving, and they are in a difficult situation. Although you have come to seek teachings, salvation in the Blue Banner Gang is not something that an individual obtains alone. Isn’t a world where we help the people and the people help us the world that the Heavenly Lord wants? So, I would like you to make a donation.”

“Ah, yes. Will money be okay?”

“Of course. With this, we can get the necessary medicine and food, so it will be a great help.”

“Hmm, I understand.”

If they had just asked for it outright, he would have felt like he was being robbed, so he wouldn’t have liked it, but since they were using the suffering people as an excuse, Azadin willingly gave the money.

When he took out about three gold coins, the Blue Banner Gang Taoist was impressed.

“That’s quite a lot of money. Thank you, brother. I will recognize you as a member of the Blue Banner Gang. The initiation ceremony is scheduled for next week, so until then, you are temporary, but I will give you this first.”

“This is….”

Azadin accepted the blue hood. It smelled astringent.

“It’s just a simple color made with tree fruit. It’s not properly dyed, so be careful because it will come off if you wash it with water.”

“Then, please tell me about the teachings. Who is the Heavenly Lord?”

“The Heavenly Lord is our cult leader. He was originally a merchant from Butuma, but one day he survived being struck by lightning and became enlightened.”

“Lightning… enlightenment?”

“That’s right. So, he put a blue banner on his head and gathered people in preparation for the age of Jupiter, while also showing grace to those suffering from epidemics. Our job is to spread his teachings and convey the voice of the Heavenly Lord to the people.”

“I see. I understand. I want to know more about the Heavenly Lord.”

Azadin’s words were not empty words.

A pseudo-religion that uses the magic of the Nether and expands its influence as the age of Jupiter approaches.

As a messenger who was ordered by the Emperor to protect the lives of the people, and as a pure human Azadin, he could not help but keep a close watch.

“To meet the Heavenly Lord in person, you must dedicate yourself to our Blue Banner Gang.”

“I suppose so.”

“So, about that… is that Holy Knight who is with you okay?”

“Didn’t I already tell you? He is currently expelled from the Order.”

“Yes, I know that. But many of the priests and Holy Knights of the King’s Church are high-ranking nobles, and those people cannot accept the blue banner even when they see that the ideology of the King’s Church is wrong and that Corasar is facing divine punishment. Even if they are expelled from the Order, there are many cases where they cannot swear allegiance to the Blue Banner Gang.”

In the eyes of the Blue Banner Gang, Zibeck seemed like a dangerous element who could cause trouble at any time.

At least this Taoist was a moderate person, so he was saying it like this, but the hardliners would be eager to kill him.

“Hmm. Thank you for your concern. I will talk to him.”

“Be careful. Ah, and I heard that you are quite skilled, so there is something I would like to ask you.”

“A request?”

“Actually, there is a group that approached us before you. We accepted them after receiving donations to save the people, but… they seem to be spies.”

“Spies?”

“That’s right. We are treating malaria and saving people with the grace and miracle of the Heavenly Lord, but they seem to think it’s some kind of sorcery and are trying to dig into it.”

Azadin was taken aback by those words.

In fact, Azadin also thought it was sorcery and was trying to dig into it, but were there others who had the same idea before him?

“I don’t know if they are people from the King’s Church or something else, but would you investigate them?”

“Me?”

“That’s right. It’s easier to get caught if you are someone who was in the Order. Please think of it as an initiation ritual.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Azadin reluctantly accepted the Taoist’s proposal.

*********

Scott waved his hand at Azadin, who was returning to the group.

“How was it? Captain?”

Scott, Zibeck, and Shati had stayed behind without meeting the Taoist with Azadin. Azadin looked around and quietly whispered to Scott.

“I got ripped off.”

“Huh?!”

“There’s that, and it’s not easy.”

Azadin explained about the investigation that the Taoist had requested.

“Wow, if a new guy comes, they’ll tell them to investigate us this time.”

“Right?”

“What are you going to do? Azadin. Are you going to do it?”

Shati also asked out of curiosity.

“Hmm. First, I need to meet the target of the investigation. I don’t know if they are from the King’s Church or just a new force, but… I think I need to meet them and discuss it with them.”

“How about we stop caring about the things here and go to Butuma to meet Araiel?”

Zibeck asked that. Azadin was surprised by the unexpected reaction.

“They are spreading a cult here?”

“It seems too much to call it a cult just because they are collecting donations and committing some atrocities against civilians. The King’s Church and the Rescue Knights are also doing those kinds of things. Besides, they are actually treating malaria and dysentery.”

Zibeck said that with a sharp tone.

Usually, malaria and dysentery were such severe diseases that if you got them, you were as good as dead.

But seeing these so-called cults treating people and gaining their popularity, Zibeck felt doubtful.

The King’s Church, which calls itself the orthodox church, had weakened healing magic, so when saving people, they considered their status and wealth, and in the end, they just left most people to die. The teachings of the orthodox church were worse than those of the cult.

Moreover, after seeing Dimia use restoration healing magic so cleanly, the conflict in his heart was getting stronger.

“Still, I’m going to investigate this Blue Banner Gang. Since they are a religion that originated in Butuma, I think it would be good to establish a relationship with them before going to Butuma anyway.”

Azadin said that and asked a nearby Blue Banner Gang soldier to find the group he had to investigate.

*********

The place where the Blue Banner Gang soldiers guided him was a traveling troupe’s wagon.

On top of the four-horse wagon, two dancing dancers were selling smiles to the people, and around them, medicine peddlers and peddlers were selling goods.

But the dancing dancer looked familiar to Azadin.

“…It’s Jenice and Dimia.”

Dimia of the Flower and her younger sister Jenice were dancing as traveling dancers.

And the merchants selling goods below them were Seraph of the Bird and Aleph of the Wind. The coachman was Indim of the Moon.

The four of the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon.

The four who could be called the strongest of the current messengers were in the Blue Banner Gang headquarters as traveling merchants.

‘Come to think of it, these guys escaped from Coral Sahar by land.’

Azadin’s group departed late, but they got on the Naga’s ship and flowed into the Adirof region around the same time.

That meant that Araiel was also likely to be nearby.

“Good. It’s good that we can meet here without having to go to Butuma.”

As Azadin said that, Indim, disguised as a coachman, approached. Indim, who was wearing a black robe all over his body and a black leather mask on his face, looked suspicious to anyone.

“Azadin….”

“It’s Adan. For now. Be careful because the Blue Banner Gang people are watching.”