The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 192

The Night of the Soulless Blasphemer – Episode 193 (193/514)

#193. Adoption 2

King Manja-Zadek of Butuma had gifted a building directly to the Cheonggeon leader. This building was an old theater, clearly visible from the royal palace. He had strategically placed the Cheonju Pavilion [Cheonju means ‘Heavenly Lord,’ referring to the leader of the Cheonggeon Clan] in a location where he could monitor the Cheonggeon Clan’s activities at any time.

Even Azadin, who wasn’t deeply familiar with Butuma’s political landscape, understood the king’s motive for building there.

Regardless of the underlying reasons, the fact that the king himself had commissioned the building publicly signified the Cheonggeon Clan’s official recognition by the Kingdom of Butuma. It was a significant favor, one that couldn’t be easily dismissed.

“Hmm, why wasn’t I aware of this?”

Azadin was surprised as he gazed at the Cheonju Pavilion, visible even from a distance. Surely, the Herald Clan would have been aware of the movements of such a rapidly growing new religion.

Next to the old theater site, an eight-story wooden pagoda had been erected, and numerous people dressed in Cheonggeon attire were seen heading towards it.

“The Cheonggeon Clan is a relatively new religion that has been growing rapidly. It would have been difficult for the Herald Clan to keep track of every detail.”

“I suppose so. They’re bound to grow quickly if they’re curing malaria.”

“……”

Jiswa was taken aback by Azadin’s words.

Azadin was the very person who had approached Grimslaw’s body and received the miracle of that body dwelling within a bow and a staff.

That miracle was equal to, if not greater than, the Cheonju’s miracle. If this fact were revealed, wouldn’t many people side with Azadin if he tried to challenge the Cheonggeon Clan’s authority?

Yet, Azadin seemed to harbor a deep distrust of the Cheonggeon Clan as an organization.

‘It’s strange that the one who performs miracles doesn’t believe in it himself.’

As Jiswa sensed, Azadin did not trust the Cheonggeon Clan.

‘After witnessing what happened in the Barony of Adirof, it would be foolish to trust the Cheonggeon Clan. However, Jiswa was saved by the Cheonggeon Clan’s elixir, so she still believes in them.’

In Azadin’s view, the leader of the Cheonggeon Clan, the Cheonju, was a typical Butuman.

Butumans were proud of the wealth they had accumulated through commerce and mining. However, they also felt inferior and victimized by their isolation from the general norms of the Hybrids [The Hybrids are a group of people with mixed heritage, often seen as more civilized than the people of Butuma].

Although they possessed numerous gold mines and sugarcane thrived in their land, the severe endemic diseases made Butuma an isolated backwater, a foreign land to the Hybrids, regardless of their wealth.

It was the most uniquely isolated environment among the Eight Kingdoms. Therefore, the nobles and wealthy people of Butuma, despite their riches, felt inferior and even resentful towards the people of the other Eight Kingdoms. The incident in the Barony of Adirof was a blatant display of that hostility.

‘In the end, this religion has its priorities reversed.’

Originally, religion was meant to convey teachings. However, as religions gathered followers and gained power, those who sought that power itself emerged.

The Cheonggeon Clan could be seen as a religion created to seize power. The teachings were superficial, and the religious order was extremely expansive.

However, those who had survived the fever were already emotionally invested in the Cheonggeon Clan, and they regarded its shallow teachings as gospel.

‘If they’re going to treat the teachings as gospel, it would be nice if they actually lived by them. They don’t even follow their own doctrine of living virtuously, so would they even listen if I said a few words? I should just meet the Cheonju and secure cooperation for the defense of Butuma. It’s pointless to argue with Jiswa here.’

Azadin headed towards the Cheonju Pavilion of the Cheonggeon Clan.

*********

The Cheonju Pavilion was a tower-like structure, essentially just pillars and stairs, as it was a building quickly constructed from wood.

However, the Butumans had an architectural style of firmly erecting pillars and using cloth for walls. They skillfully arranged the colorfully decorated cloth to adorn the building and divide the space, so it didn’t give the impression of a hastily built structure.

‘It’s an architecture that’s well-suited for a hot climate. It’s cool and pleasant.’

Azadin stopped in front of the audience hall where he was to meet the Cheonju.

“Jiswa, the Taoist. Welcome. And who is this?”

“Ah, this is a guest who will be meeting the Cheonju with me.”

“Then, please unpack your luggage first and change into the clothes we have prepared.”

“Please also remove your helmet.”

Azadin removed his helmet as requested.

Those who saw the scars on Azadin’s face and his damaged eye were taken aback.

“A-are you alright?”

“I didn’t know you were blind. H-however, it is our law that no weapons or canes should be brought before the Cheonju….”

They were flustered, thinking Azadin was blind. It seemed that even a cane for the blind was not allowed before the Cheonju.

“Don’t worry. I’m already used to it. If it’s a procedure, I’ll follow it.”

Azadin reassured the flustered servants and changed into the clothes they had prepared.

It seemed that they were worried about an assassination attempt on the Cheonju, as they were not just disarming him but also making him change his clothes.

‘It’s strict. But I was curious to try on Butuman clothes. I expected to be disarmed.’

Azadin laid down his weapons and changed into Butuman clothes.

The Butuman clothes were made by wrapping cloth around the body, which felt almost like being naked from Azadin’s perspective.

‘It’s cool, but… hmm, it feels like I’m walking around naked. I shouldn’t have said I’d wear it.’

Azadin was more troubled by the feeling of being exposed in a public place than by the joy of experiencing Butuman culture. After changing his clothes, a guide came and began to teach him the etiquette.

“Now, you must not look at the Cheonju carelessly here. I will teach you the procedures according to the laws of the Cheonggeon Clan.”

“What do you mean?”

“There is a ceremonial procedure, so please follow it. First, you must bow your head and recite a hymn praising the Cheonju. Then, when you are told it is okay to raise your head, you may look at the Cheonju.”

‘They’re more particular than the Eight Royal Clans who inherited the blood of the Yaegas Gods [The Yaegas Gods are the deities worshipped by the Eight Royal Clans]. Are they trying to establish authority? This is excessive.’

Azadin realized the Cheonju’s intention to establish his authority by creating unnecessary rituals, but what was the point of saying anything? He had no choice but to follow along.

Azadin did a rehearsal as instructed and was then able to meet the Cheonju.

“The Cheonggeon Taoist Jiswa and his friend Adan come to see the Cheonju.”

“Raise your heads.”

Azadin raised his head as he heard the Cheonju’s voice.

In fact, Azadin could see the Cheonju even before raising his head. Azadin’s vision did not rely on his physical body. Even while prostrating, he had lifted his gaze and was looking at the Cheonju.

However, the Cheonju was behind a well-made nassal [A nassal is a type of screen or veil], so only his shadow was faintly visible.

What was certain was that he had a neutral voice that sometimes sounded like a boy and sometimes like a girl, which was impressive, considering that his daughter, Gimella, was a grown woman, meaning he must be quite old.

“Oh, who is this? Isn’t it Jiswa? I clearly sent you to Corasar, so why have you returned? Your mission is not yet over. Or is it? Has all of Corasar already declared their allegiance to the Cheongcheon’s Way?”

“Cheonju, I have witnessed a miracle.”

“A miracle?”

“Yes. In order to spread the Cheonju’s Way, while proclaiming the doctrine and providing relief to the people in the border region of Corasar, the Barony of Adirof, those who had taken the elixir suddenly turned into Nether’s minions and went on a rampage, harming those around them.”

“Oh, dear.”

The Cheonju’s voice still had a hint of amusement.

Whether the rampage in the Barony of Adirof was the Cheonju’s intention or the independent action of the Butuman Taoists who disliked Corasar, the Cheonju was indifferent to the disaster that had occurred in Corasar.

Such an attitude despite the loss of life. Azadin didn’t like the Cheonju from the start.

“So, is the one who came with you the Herald Clan member?”

“Yes?”

“I’ve already heard the story. I heard that he purified Grimslaw’s rampaging minions and stole the divine artifact.”

“Ah, no. It’s not stealing. Grimslaw chose him directly. He is dwelling in his weapon and helping him.”

Jiswa was startled by the Cheonju’s words and quickly corrected him. However, the Cheonju didn’t seem to be listening to Jiswa.

“Nonsense. Jiswa, he is a member of the Herald Clan. A soulless blasphemer.”

Azadin chuckled at the Cheonju’s words calling him a soulless blasphemer.

Calling the Herald Clan soulless blasphemers was a derogatory term used by those who worshiped the Yaegas Gods because they could not understand the actions of the Herald Clan, who dared to kill the children of the gods.

It was illogical for the leader of a new religion who did not have reverence for the Yaegas Gods or even the minimum of courtesy to use that derogatory term.

“Now, now, Cheonju. I have come to you in peace, at least. There’s no need to go this far.”

“Do you call trying to disrupt our Cheonggeon Clan’s doctrine with false miracles peace?”

“First of all, I apologize for that. Actually, it was Jiswa who claimed the miracle, not me.”

“Hmph.”

The Cheonju rang a small bell, and the curtains around them were drawn back, and members of the religious order armed with spears rushed in.

Azadin was unarmed and wearing minimal clothing, but he sighed and raised both hands.

“Is that surrender?”

“No.”

The moment Azadin said that, a scream was suddenly heard from behind.

“Agh!”

“B-block him!”

However, Grimslaw’s staff flew through the crowd and into Azadin’s hand. And something like a wooden snake scurried across the ground and wrapped around Azadin’s waist.

Grimslaw’s bow and staff had come to find Azadin on their own.

‘Since it’s a weapon that originally hits the opponent and returns when thrown, I thought it would just fly over if I just willed it.’

Azadin knew the habit of Grimslaw’s staff, which would fly back to his hand on its own if he wanted it. That’s why he had accepted being disarmed and wearing Butuman clothes without much resistance.

However, from Azadin’s perspective, it was a weapon that returned when thrown, but here, it was like a divine artifact. Wouldn’t it look like it had chosen Azadin as its master?

“……”

“Huh?”

“T-that’s the Taoist’s staff.”

“No, that’s….”

The Cheonggeon Clan members who saw the scene in front of them were shocked.

Most of them had become Grimslaw’s minions, so they knew that the staff was not just a symbol of the Cheonggeon Taoist but contained the essence of Grimslaw.

“It’s a miracle! A miracle!”

Even in this situation, Jiswa defended Azadin and kept shouting about a miracle.

‘Stop it, you idiot. I just need the Cheonggeon Clan’s cooperation to defend Butuma. I’m not trying to take the leader’s position. The more you do that, the more difficult my position becomes.’

Azadin had made Jiswa promise several times before coming here, but it seemed to be just empty words.