The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 272

‘This elf undead is quite unusual,’ Azadin thought, his focus fixed on the chilling aura emanating from Dahlia.

She was looking at him with a gaze full of desire. It was a deeply alluring gaze, but he couldn’t discern if it was a longing for his affection or a craving to tear into his flesh and blood.

“Ah, a young and handsome one. Hehehe. I can smell the sweet scent of blood from here.”

“When will we arrive?” Azadin asked, trying to ignore her unsettling comment.

“We’re almost there,” Dahlia replied, her eyes never leaving him.

The carriage ascended a hill. Countless trees seemed to block the path, making it impassable, but suddenly, as the fog cleared, the carriage was in the front yard of a large mansion.

Sir Sork’s mansion revealed its grand and eerie appearance.

“Now, this way,” Dahlia said with a smile, leading Azadin’s group toward the mansion.

*********

The mansion’s entrance was decorated with various artworks that one might see in a noble’s residence in a large city.

Sculptures, paintings, and gold-plated frames testified to the wealth of the mansion’s owner.

However, a chilling black aura surrounded the area, and will-o’-the-wisps [ghostly lights] floated about. The pale light of the will-o’-the-wisps gave the mansion a splendid yet desolate and faded feel.

In the mansion’s entrance, the lobby, servants were already lined up.

Men and women elves dressed in neat tailcoats were visible.

“Who are they?” Azadin asked, his eyes scanning the silent figures.

“They are all Sir Sork’s servants,” Dahlia said proudly, her chest puffing out slightly.

As the servants and maids opened their eyes, blue will-o’-the-wisps flickered within them.

‘Wights,’ Azadin realized. All the elves here, including Dahlia, were cursed undead, wights [undead beings animated by dark magic].

Seeing their similar appearances and tattoos to Sedrin, they were likely Sedrin’s kin.

Now, he understood why Sedrin had asked him to subjugate Sir Sork in exchange for her loyalty. It would be unpleasant to see one’s own kin turned into wights and used as servants by Sir Sork.

Just then, a bell began to ring from the second floor.

“Our great master, Sir Sork, who has overcome even death, is coming,” Dahlia announced, her voice echoing in the hall.

Along with the eerie bell sound, heavy footsteps approached.

*********

-Thump!

The stairs shook. That was because Sir Sork was a massive figure, slightly smaller than the minotaur Selim, an impossible size for a human.

Wearing full plate armor on that massive frame, his weight must have been enormous.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had guests. Please excuse any shortcomings in our hospitality,” Sir Sork said, his voice deep and resonant. He removed his helmet in front of Azadin.

He was a muscular orc with thick tusks protruding from his lips. The lack of vitality in his body and the ghostly glow in his eyes made it clear that he was not alive.

‘An orc… and an undead, there’s even a minotaur. With such a diverse group, why were they so against me joining the Rescue Knights?’ Azadin thought, feeling a sense of injustice seeing the many unusual members of the Rescue Knights.

“So, you are Lord Azadin. Amazing. To think you would come with Lord Selim. And Lord Selim’s head…” Sir Sork’s gaze turned to Selim’s severed horns.

Both of Selim’s once-proud horns were cut off, revealing gruesome wounds.

“What brings you here?” Sir Sork asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Are you Sir Sork? Actually, I received a request from Sedrin, the forest keeper of the Black Forest. She asked you to return her kin’s bodies,” Azadin stated, his voice firm.

“Ah, Sedrin’s request? I would like to grant it if possible. However…” Sork gestured to Dahlia, who smiled and shook her head.

“As you can see, the individuals themselves are opposed,” Dahlia said, her voice laced with a hint of mockery.

The wight elves were smiling. Their smiles, as if they were completely satisfied with their current lives, seemed like they were wearing masks.

Azadin chuckled at Sir Sork’s absurd words. Unlike mindless zombies or other undead, wights are distorted monsters that are similar to living humans. They can maintain their lifelike appearance because they periodically drink the fresh blood of living beings. The fact that they are wights with appearances similar to their living selves means they are constantly killing.

“On that point, Sedrin says that they are distorted by necromancy and cannot make sound judgments, wouldn’t you agree?” Azadin countered, his eyes fixed on Sir Sork.

“If such a claim is made, evidence must be provided. If someone were to claim you were insane, how would you prove that you are of sound mind?” Sir Sork retorted, his voice calm and measured.

“Of course, if one is of sound mind, it would be rude to call someone insane. But if there are empty bottles lying around and a strong smell of alcohol, wouldn’t it be reasonable to question their sanity?” Azadin replied, his tone sharp.

“Haha. You speak well. Let’s be honest. Sedrin asked you to subjugate me, didn’t she?” Sir Sork said, his smile widening.

“Of course, since you possess the bodies of Sedrin’s kin. She heard that you harmed her kin to obtain their bodies,” Azadin confirmed, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

“That’s a story with a lot of room for misunderstanding. But it doesn’t matter if you misunderstand,” Sir Sork said, his eyes gleaming with a dark light.

At that moment, the appearance of the elf servants changed. From their neat and beautiful forms, not much different from their living selves, they instantly transformed into bloodthirsty demons. Their teeth protruded, their tongues turned bright red, their eyes became bloodshot, and they grew sharp animal claws.

Dahlia also transformed, and that was their true nature. Wights, undead beings hungry for the blood and vitality of the living, that was their essence.

“The Shade Hags [a group of powerful witches] have put a bounty on your head, Lord Azadin,” Sir Sork announced, his voice now laced with menace.

“Are you going to fight? I’m all for it,” Azadin said, drawing Aurelia Dawn [his sword].

The blade blazed, emitting a golden light, but… Dense fog and darkness suddenly surged from all directions.

The mansion was enveloped in darkness, and only the ghostly glow of the wights and Sir Sork flickered. The light from Azadin’s sword was obscured by the darkness.

“Kuh?!” Selim exclaimed, pulling out his axe and looking around. The wights, who had scattered and regrouped, were now watching them from all sides, smacking their lips.

“Well, attacking like this wouldn’t be fun, would it? You’re guests who came to my mansion of your own accord, so it wouldn’t be stylish to overwhelm you with numbers. I’ll face you myself,” Sir Sork declared, his voice echoing through the darkness.

Suddenly, a part of the darkness receded, and Sir Sork approached Azadin.

“The Emperor’s Envoy, and the knight who received the last investiture from Planck of Wisdom, Azadin,” Sir Sork said, his voice filled with a strange mix of respect and resentment.

“You knew that too?” Azadin asked, surprised by the information.

“The Shade Hags told me. Ha… what is it about you that makes you so different from me, that you received such glory?” Sir Sork questioned, his voice tinged with bitterness.

“……” Azadin remained silent, unsure how to respond.

Surprisingly, the emotion Sir Sork showed Azadin was jealousy. He was jealous that Azadin was the protagonist of Lord Planck’s prophecy.

‘I never thought my life would be the object of someone’s jealousy,’ Azadin thought, a wry smile forming on his lips. It was a life with more pain than joy. But to the undead before him, even that might be something to be jealous of.

“Shall you show me? The power of the knight of destiny?” Sir Sork challenged, his eyes burning with a dark light.

“You’ll see it whether you want to or not,” Azadin replied, his grip tightening on his sword.

Azadin charged and swung his sword at Sork. A lightning-fast strike aimed for Sork’s neck, but Sork didn’t dodge and thrust his sword at Azadin.

Regardless of swordsmanship, if the undead Sork and Azadin were to clash, the living Azadin would be at a disadvantage.

‘Hmm!’ Azadin thought, realizing he was facing an enemy who knew his own characteristics better than any monster he had faced before.

However, Azadin deflected Sir Sork’s sword and aimed for his neck.

-Shhh!

Azadin’s foot slipped.

‘Damn it…’ Sir Sork’s strength was stronger than expected! Moreover, Azadin’s strength was weakening.

Azadin’s strength was the result of a synergistic effect between his own physical strength and the magic of Kazas Haze [a magical technique]. But this darkness was interfering with Azadin’s magic.

“Amazing. Truly, the knight of destiny,” Sir Sork admired the mark left by Azadin’s sword on his armor, the neck guard.

Azadin’s sword had only left a slight scratch on the surface of the thick armor.

‘Damn it, the armor is incredibly sturdy. Aurelia Dawn’s blade is too soft,’ Azadin thought, frustration creeping in. An Azuresteel longsword [a type of magical metal] would be a different story, but the Seramite longsword’s blade was soft. Normally, Azadin could destroy that armor with Aurelia Dawn, but now, with the darkness all around interfering with Azadin’s magic, it was difficult.

“Well, is that all? Show me more, Azadin. The Emperor’s Envoy and the Knight of Destiny!” Sir Sork taunted, his voice echoing through the darkness.

“Stop calling me by those grand names! Sir Sork!” Azadin shouted, his anger rising.

Azadin raised Aurelia Dawn and charged again. Sork chanted a spell and pointed his left hand towards the ground, then flicked his hand up at Azadin as if rolling a ball.

Blades of bone formed along the ground and rushed towards Azadin. Azadin jumped over them and instantly used Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon, Earth Spider [a movement technique] to change his entry angle.

-Clang!

Azadin’s blade aimed for Sork’s neck from behind, but Sork raised his arm and blocked Azadin’s attack.

“Excellent skill, but alas…” Sir Sork began, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Burn!” Azadin shouted, interrupting Sork’s words.

Aurelia Dawn emitted a dazzling golden light, and flames instantly surged, melting the sword’s blade. The liquefied flames flowed down Sork’s arm and struck his entire body.

The golden flames, like molten lead, burned Sork’s body.

“Kuaaaak!” Sork screamed and began to writhe.

A perfect chance to attack! However, Azadin’s Aurelia Dawn was currently melting into liquid metal, burning Sork’s body.

Azadin quickly drew his Moon Horn Bow, strung it, and loaded an Azuresteel arrow, shooting Sork’s head, heart, and the center of his power, his waist.

The Azuresteel arrows pierced through the armor and sank deep.

“Good. Azuresteel works well!” Azadin said, a grim satisfaction in his voice.

Azadin grabbed an Azuresteel dagger and was about to deliver the final blow to Sir Sork. But something was strange.

‘Why are his subordinates so calm?’ Azadin wondered. Even though Sir Sork was screaming in pain, the wights were just watching.

Was this not a threat to Sir Sork?

‘He’s a lich, right? He must have hidden his life force somewhere else, an immortal being who won’t die from this attack. But he wouldn’t be happy about his body being destroyed, would he?’ Azadin thought, his mind racing.

Azadin was wary of Sork and strung the Azuresteel dagger on his bowstring and shot it. The rapidly flying Azuresteel dagger pierced Sir Sork’s neck.

And then, Azadin’s kick struck the hilt of the Azuresteel dagger, tearing off Sir Sork’s head.

“Kyak!” Sir Sork, with his head severed, screamed and staggered.

“Kuh… Ahahahahahaha,” But then, Sir Sork’s body, which had been staggering, suddenly spun around as if dancing and began to laugh.