The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 423

As the endless winter deepened, the pillaging of human villages by goblins, bris [a type of small, mischievous goblin], and ogres intensified. However, until now, these attacks had been nothing more than the actions of a disorganized rabble.

This time, however, the army that had gathered was different.

Goblin shamans and ogre sorcerers, servants of the Fanged King—an emissary of the Kurtic Pantheon [a group of deities worshipped by ogres and goblins]—had taken command. This was a force with considerable armament and organization, marching steadily south.

The Fanged King’s vassals, countless demonic beasts, formed the vanguard, their appearance like a legion straight from hell.

They traversed the no-man’s-land on the border between Naisandokar and Chitai, bypassed the western pass guarded by Prince Balthazar of the Northern March, and finally entered Arangi.

Prince Balthazar had firmly secured the fortress of Sihata at the western pass, putting up only a token defense.

In effect, Prince Balthazar had allowed their advance.

As the terrified residents of Arangi fled, the cities became desolate, and Arangjin, the capital, was already overflowing with refugees.

*********

Marquis Gazen of the Noble Alliance was in a panic, attempting to send a messenger to Prince Balthazar.

However, even the messengers couldn’t get through. The Fanged King’s army, gathered outside Arangjin, was massacring anyone who tried to pass.

‘Has he lost his mind? What on earth is Prince Balthazar thinking? At this rate, he’ll be completely cut off!’

But then, an envoy from Prince Balthazar arrived at the Noble Alliance. Surprisingly, they were elves from the Telbarin Guild.

‘Marquis Gazen, we bring a letter from Prince Balthazar.’

‘Amazing. Even though the elven queen assassinated the king, you were able to pass through the Fanged King’s forces?’

‘We owe it to our special magic.’

The elves of the Telbarin Guild glossed over the matter, but it was clear they were in league with the Fanged King’s vassals.

Marquis Gazen, suppressing his frustration at their brazen excuses, received Prince Balthazar’s letter.

As expected, Prince Balthazar was merely making excuses. He claimed to be isolated due to a lack of troops and was asking Azadin to subdue the Fanged King’s army.

‘He has no backbone. How did the Arangi Kingdom become like this?’

Marquis Gazen sighed as he read Prince Balthazar’s letter.

It was absurd that Prince Balthazar, the closest to the throne among the princes, was trying to pass everything onto Azadin with such a transparent trick.

However, on the other hand, he could understand why he made such a decision.

Azadin’s army was still pouring in from Banlung, and their numbers were considerable.

It was estimated that more than 20,000 troops had entered the Arangi Kingdom, a huge number that only the Northern Emperor Cohen Lionheart could typically mobilize.

‘Well, most of them are just ragged refugee soldiers, though.’

With these refugee soldiers, Azadin was pacifying the southern coastal area.

‘Baron Eremba? I thought he was a petty man, but he seems to have some skills. To bring in such a big shot.’

‘Are you calling the Heraldic Clan a big shot now?’

‘He is a big shot. Prince Balthazar has taken a big gamble this time. If King Azadin defeats the Fanged King’s army, no one will be able to object even if he takes the throne of Arangi.’

‘It’s become a joke. He must have proposed a council government without realizing he would end up taking the throne.’

‘If you think about it that way, we have nothing to lose. King Azadin won’t be able to defeat them without bloodshed, so we’ll be safe.’

The nobles decided to formally request Azadin to subdue the Fanged King, expecting they would secure at least a seat on the council, regardless of who won.

*********

Baron Eremba had been living in a state of near madness since he had allowed Azadin’s army to enter.

Azadin’s army was constantly growing. Reinforcements kept arriving from Banlung, and before he knew it, it had become a large army of over 20,000 men.

An army of 20,000 men. Wasn’t that the kind of army you’d only see in some mythical war on the Hybris continent?

Arangi and Chitai had mobilized a total of 40,000 men when they fought a war, but that was over a hundred years ago.

Moreover, that was a decisive battle between kingdoms. It was not a number of troops that a mere baron would ever see before his eyes.

Of course, most of them were refugee soldiers without proper equipment, but whether they were refugee soldiers or elite soldiers, they all needed to be fed.

In the end, Baron Eremba’s abilities were not enough to meet the supply needs of Azadin’s army.

He had made a bold promise to provide provisions, but that promise became an empty one in just two weeks.

‘Well, that was the plan from the start. It’s too much for a baron to handle the king’s army alone.’

Azadin brought supplies directly from Banlung to provide provisions, and instead, he assigned construction work to Baron Eremba.

He was tasked with expanding supply routes, strengthening patrols, and paving and repairing roads within the territory whenever Azadin requested it.

This was no easy task, but he had to do this much since he had broken his promise to provide provisions.

Baron Eremba, following Azadin’s request, hastily demolished his mansion and the original castle walls to secure stone and wood for road repairs.

Thanks to this, Baron Eremba also had to live in a tent like a field commander.

In the midst of all this, a letter arrived from the Noble Alliance.

The letter was a formal request from the Noble Alliance to eliminate the Fanged King’s large army that was pouring in from the north and to ensure the peace of the kingdom.

*********

‘This, if this happens, it was pointless to say we would do a council government.’

Zekt smiled bitterly as he read Marquis Gazen’s message.

If Azadin, who was pacifying the southern coastal area, were to stop the Fanged King’s army that had come from the north, he would become a national hero in Arangi.

It would be a great achievement that no one could object to, even if he officially requested the throne. But he had said he would establish a council government before that.

However, Azadin showed a lukewarm attitude.

‘Well, isn’t a council government not bad? It’s just that I’m disappointed in the princes and nobles here.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘To run a council, personal gain is important, of course, but you also have to be willing to compromise for the greater good. But no one seems to care about the greater good.’

‘…….’

Zekt was even feeling bewildered by Azadin’s reaction.

Azadin was a man who was genuinely interested in the greater good.

He was obsessed with such trivial things that none of the royal families and nobles of Hybris cared about, and he was willing to take losses to save the people.

‘Is it because of the teachings of the Relief Knights? But there wasn’t anyone like this in the Relief Knights.’

It was possible to laugh at Azadin’s actions as foolish and stupid.

However, it was like spitting in the face of someone who had thoroughly defeated you to mock him.

‘Then what are you going to do?’

‘Of course, we have to fight. Even at this moment, the people are suffering, so I can’t let those pillagers run rampant. But I have to tell the nobles and the Arangian Guard to show at least a minimum of sincerity.’

‘If that’s the case…’

‘I will declare a conscription.’

Azadin wrote letters to Marquis Gazen and the Arangian Guard, who had occupied Arangjin.

*********

It was now the middle of spring, according to the seasons.

It was time to sow various crops for the main farming season, not just winter barley, but the weather was still cold.

Fortunately, the Banlung Kingdom had succeeded in sowing northern crops, and northern wheat and turnips could also be sown in the territory of the Arangi Kingdom occupied by Azadin.

However, in the meantime, the Fanged King’s army had advanced to the plains in front of Arangjin, the capital of the Arangi Kingdom.

They had been advancing by using humans as provisions, eating human flesh. Countless people were being killed and captured as food, and their resentful screams could be heard in the camp, carried by the wind.

In the midst of this, Azadin set up camp in the village of Seongha, north of Arangjin, with his shabby troops.

‘Damn it. I feel like I’ve been scammed.’

Marquis Gazen responded to King Azadin’s conscription order and brought his private soldiers and retainers from the noble alliance.

In total, there were about 1,000 knights and retainers, and considering the cost of their horses and armor, it could be said that a huge military expense had been paid.

Azadin, a foreign king, was taking the lead to protect the Arangi Kingdom, so the nobles could not just stand by.

However, while they had scraped together all the money they had to form the best cavalry, Azadin’s army was said to be 20,000 strong, but most of them were refugee soldiers, ragged and not even properly armored.

Azadin’s soldiers had excellent training even though their equipment was poor, but no matter how high their training was, they could not overcome the fundamental difference in troop types.

The Fanged King’s army was composed of a beast cavalry unit with powerful breakthrough capabilities, and the shock force of the ogre warbands, who also wielded terrifying brute force, would break through the human army’s defense line. Then, the destructive attack power of the goblin soldiers who would rush in would cut off the breath of the troops.

To counter this, it was necessary to have the attack power or defense power to stop the beast cavalry and the ogre warbands.

‘Only our knights can do it. This is… we will have to shed blood at the forefront.’

‘No, not just us.’

Marquis Gazen shook his head.

The Arangian Guard, who had occupied Arangjin, came out of the castle and joined Azadin’s army in response to King Azadin’s letter.

About 300 heavy infantrymen stood there with huge halberds and two-handed greatswords, looking majestic like statues in a temple.

It was clear that they were also dissatisfied with the reality of Azadin’s army.

They had thought that the 20,000 troops who were pacifying the southern coastal area would be a huge and great army, but it turned out to be a group of beggars who had just increased their numbers.

It was only natural that they felt cheated.

However, since they had said they would help Azadin, they could not run away now.

The Arangians all valued honor and face. King Carnago IV of Arangi was a bit of an exception, but most of them would even risk their lives to keep their word.

The Arangians are corpses without honor and bluster.

It was the reputation of people from other regions that they were petty people who were obsessed with honor, but just by being obsessed with honor, they were at least doing their part as human beings.

It would have been a problem if they had completely disregarded honor.

‘Let’s see the command skills of the Heraldic Clan king.’

The Arangian Guard also questioned how much military talent Azadin would show.

At that moment, Azadin flew in from the sky on a hippogriff and landed in front of them.

‘Now, let’s decide on the formation! I’m sorry, but Arangian Guard, you will have to take on the most dangerous and difficult mission.’

Azadin asked the Arangian Guard to take the lead.

The Arangian Guard scoffed at such a brazen request.

‘No, King Azadin. You are a king of another country and a member of the Heraldic Clan. To be honest, we are not happy that you will become the king of Arangi. And yet, you are telling us to be the first to take the brunt of the enemy’s charge?’

‘Yes. Because you, the Arangian Guard, are the only ones who can handle the Fanged King’s forces right now. Why? Are you dissatisfied?’

‘Hmph… how could we be dissatisfied?’

‘We will show you the power of the Arangian Guard!’

The Arangian Guard willingly accepted Azadin’s order and took the lead.

In front of them, ogres twice their size and beast cavalry with horns and teeth even larger than the ogres were charging, but the Arangian Guard were not at all intimidated and moved forward.