The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 393

If one receives a fief and title directly from the king, like Azadin, they can become a great noble while maintaining their position as a Holy Knight.

‘If that were possible.’

‘Only that guy could do it.’

However, the existing power holders would not welcome the emergence of a new great noble, as it would disrupt the already established social system and balance of power.

In this day and age, to obtain the title of a great noble, a count no less, by proving one’s ability.

Isn’t it a recreation of a thrilling hero’s tale, something you’d only see in old stories?

‘Thinking about it like this, he really is something. I can understand why the Celestial Fire is being pushed back.’

‘No, but we put so much effort into the Celestial Fire… all the public support has gone to that guy?’

The Wisdom Order had committed the taboo of destroying the petrified bodies of angels to reincarnate humans as Celestials [beings of angelic lineage].

A knight order of angelic lineage, with the blood of the heavens, beautiful appearances, outstanding martial prowess, and the power of white mana, which was now weakened and hard to find, would shine in the chaotic times and gather the support of the people.

The Wisdom Order had an ambitious plan to use them to rise as the leading religion of the Hybris Continent.

However, the public’s attention was now ridiculously focused on that newcomer, Count Azadin, and even among the Celestial Fire, many young people were captivated by Azadin.

‘Who was the idiot who thought of building achievements only with a knight order in the first place? It’s just armchair theorizing.’

No matter how capable the Celestials were as knights, there were limits if supplies were not systematically provided.

The amount of water and hay that horses consumed was enormous.

To travel around, achieving feats and raising their reputation, they needed that much supply, and then the speed of the supply train would become the marching speed of the entire knight order.

It was also impossible to split the Celestials into small groups and dispatch them in various directions.

The Celestials, who used children as their vessels, were like children even if they looked like adults, and they didn’t know the ways of the world. They were not in a state to carry out missions independently.

In the end, despite breaking the taboo, the results were truly meager.

On the other hand, Count Azadin was a true hero, not something they had artificially created.

Even those who belittled him because of his lineage could not deny that Azadin was a remarkable talent.

If it had stopped there, they could have just laughed it off, though it was annoying.

“Anyway, isn’t it wrong that he’s even claiming the throne of Banlung? He’s even preaching heretical teachings…”

“Have you read that book?”

“Are you crazy?”

“No, I have read it. If you look at the contents, it’s actually the teachings of the Ascetic School. If we deny Lord Azadin’s doctrine, we’re denying the teachings of our knight order’s Ascetic School.”

“No, isn’t the Ascetic School small anyway? We can just brand them as heretics and punish them…”

“You don’t know how popular that soulless blasphemer is in this southern region.”

“What do you mean…”

“It’s to the point where a riot could break out if we deny him. Because he’s absorbing those whom other lords, even the Order, have abandoned because they couldn’t afford to feed them. Maybe it’s because he’s wealthy from taking the Dwarven Arrow’s assets, but it’s natural that the people support him.”

“So, there’s no way, is that what you’re saying? Are we just going to watch that soulless blasphemer stir up the whole world? How are we going to satisfy what the King’s Church is demanding from us?”

“That’s their problem to figure out.”

“No, you’ve been siding with that Heraldic guy from the start, did you get something to eat from him?”

“Watch your mouth. Then, what did you get from the King’s Church that you’re trying to do everything they tell you to do?”

The high-ranking clergy began to argue. Some of the clergy were not present in person and were participating in the meeting through magic mirrors, but they were about to grab each other by the collar even through the mirrors.

“Now, calm down.”

The Grand Bishop of Wisdom clapped his hands.

“That heretic is famous and has the support of the people only because he’s handing out food. And the fact that he hasn’t lost in any war so far and has always been lucky also plays a big part.”

“Then…”

“We just need to defeat him this time. A losing fighting dog gets its bowl taken away. The Inquisitors of the King’s Church have arrived, so why don’t we send Count Azadin to them and then ambush him from behind or cut off his supplies? And, as luck would have it, Lord Karna of the Celestial Fire is stationed in Banlung, the Heart of the Mountain…”

Karna was a Celestial who had strong memories of his past life and was active as the son of the Northern Emperor.

Unlike the young Celestials who had no particular memories of their past lives, he was a seasoned and politically savvy figure, so perhaps he could do something about Azadin?

“Oh! That’s right.”

“Lord Karna will be able to take care of that soulless blasphemer in an instant.”

“So, let’s leave it to them.”

*********

For these reasons, an order to assassinate Azadin was issued to Karna, the commander of the Celestial Fire.

“Haa. Easier said than done. This is just armchair theorizing too.”

Karna went to the front of the Banlung port to meet Azadin’s army, which had expressed its intention to enter the Heart of the Mountain.

His adjutant whispered beside him.

“His forces have already established themselves in the Coxhall direction, so if we lure him here and then attack him from behind when he clashes with the Inquisitors, his luck will run out, no matter how wicked the magic of the Heraldic race is. Besides, we have fortress cannons here, don’t we?”

Karna’s adjutant was whispering the opinions of the upper echelons of the Rescue Knights, those who had already been won over by the Northern Emperor, Cohen Lionheart.

But it was easier said than done.

‘Isn’t Lord Azadin the one who played a decisive role in capturing this Banlung? He probably knows the secret passages of Banlung. There are many secret passages of the dwarves in the Heart of the Mountain.’

What if they backstabbed Azadin and he used the secret passages of Banlung to enter? Could they handle him then? And above all, what about the people who support Azadin?

Karna had been watching what Azadin’s army was doing while occupying the Banlung port area.

While repairing the road from Coxhall to the Heart of the Mountain, they were rebuilding nearby farms and villages, and patrolling to suppress goblins, brigands, and bandits, and establishing public order.

They were hiring people who had been refugees until recently as soldiers, paying them wages, and giving them work.

This was not just simple charity. If it were just simple charity, the Rescue Knights had been giving it out to the point of being sick of it.

Unlike that, Azadin’s method was to give a sense of calling. To tell them that their existence was not a burden to be rescued, but a necessary one. To tell them that even though they had lost their homes and left, they were still needed.

Karna was truly impressed by Azadin because he knew how difficult that was.

‘They want me to purge a guy like this? It’s beyond my ability.’

Karna and Triodana were recognized for their abilities among the children of the Northern Emperor, to the point that they were appointed as the commander of the Celestial Fire.

He was capable even before he was reincarnated as a Celestial.

After being reincarnated as a Celestial, he was backed by beauty, strength, and the noble lineage of a demigod, a half-angel, so it seemed impossible that he was inferior to anyone.

However, even such a dazzling being would be overshadowed when they met an even more brilliant being.

‘Before I was reincarnated, I would never have said that I couldn’t handle a Heraldic, even if my mouth was torn apart.’

When he saw the achievements that Azadin had accomplished, a feeling of admiration welled up from the depths of his heart.

Whether he knew Karna’s feelings or not, the adjutant from Asander was only loyal to the Northern Emperor and was only thinking about getting rid of Azadin.

It was unpleasant.

Surprisingly, Karna felt unpleasant at his adjutant’s remarks and was calming his chest.

Something foreign caught his hand.

The New Testament Declaration. The heretical book that Azadin had spread was in his chest.

‘Ridiculous…’

At first, he had scoffed at this book that Azadin had spread.

Azadin, you are a lowly and disgusting Heraldic [a race considered inferior], so you are directly denying the teachings of the King’s Church.

If the teachings of the King’s Church were denied, wouldn’t the one who would benefit the most be Azadin, who was from the Heraldic race?

There was nothing more despicable than someone who was fervently preaching their own gain.

Karna read the book while scoffing at Azadin’s disgrace.

But…

The things that he didn’t understand about Azadin’s actions so far began to be understood through the New Testament Declaration.

‘No way. I have already dedicated myself to my father’s cause. I was reincarnated as a Celestial! Only the Lionheart clan, who have inherited the blood of Yaeghas, will end the chaos of this world and bring lasting peace! This heretic… he’s a Heraldic!’

Karna tried hard to deny it.

But he also wanted to believe in that New Testament that Azadin was claiming.

*********

With a heavy heart, Karna went out to greet them in front of the castle gate.

Beyond the castle walls, which had been wrecked by the fortress cannons and coastal cannons firing at each other during the Battle of Banlung, Azadin’s army was already visible.

The ceremonial castle gate opened, and Count Azadin and his troops began to enter in an orderly fashion.

Even the refugee soldiers had been trained quite well, and their movements were orderly.

And at the forefront, Azadin walked in, riding a hippogriff [a mythical creature with the body of a horse and the wings and head of an eagle].

His appearance was so majestic that even the Celestials were impressed.

Even the nearby residents had gathered to see Azadin, even from a distance.

“It’s been a while, Lord Karna. Thank you for opening the castle gate.”

Count Azadin approached Karna, who was lost in complex thoughts, and paid his respects.

Thanking him for opening the castle gate… Karna smiled inwardly.

“No. There’s no reason for us to stop you, is there? Aren’t we brothers? At least when you’re not claiming the throne of Banlung and are still a knight of the same Rescue Knights.”

“Is it not so now?”

“How can we call you a brother when you’re claiming the king of Banlung for your personal ambition and causing discord with the King’s Church?”

“The discord with the King’s Church is not what I want.”

“Is that so? If you become king, will they stay still?”

“But that doesn’t mean we can deny the truth, does it?”

“Ugh…”

“Do you think it’s not true?”

At that moment, a dazzling radiance appeared from Azadin.

A majestic golden halo emanated from Azadin’s head.

“………”

Karna was speechless. He was also a Celestial, so he could use white mana, but what Azadin was displaying was an overwhelming power that left even him speechless.