The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 111

Azadin stopped Zibeck.

“Now, now, calm down. I’ve heard a bit of the story, and it seems that man’s wife became a cultist and caused this mess. If he were to say his wife became a cultist, he would not only have to kill her but also be interrogated himself for being connected, so he’s keeping it a secret.”

“Ah. Is that the reason? A cultist… Well, if it’s a family matter, I suppose Lord Brock had no choice.”

Guillaume Valt clenched his fist.

“Now that we know the reason, let’s help him. I don’t know what tricks the cultists used to bewitch Lord Brock’s wife, but she can still come back. If we persuade her and bring her back safely…”

“Hmm.”

Azadin clicked his tongue at those words.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Huh?”

This time, the whole group was surprised and looked at Azadin.

‘Wait, wasn’t this guy a pushover?’

Midiam was taken aback that Azadin, whom she thought was a pushover, refused, and Ismail also felt bewildered.

‘He does have a habit of damaging the reproductive organs of those who oppose him, but I thought he liked helping people?’

Everyone was confused by Azadin’s opposition to the rescue. Still, Ismail welcomed Azadin’s choice.

“This time, our understanding is aligned. I was worried you would recklessly offer help again.”

“But didn’t you say that saving people is a beautiful thing?”

Midiam was rather curious as to why Azadin was refusing.

“Alright. Let me explain this opportunity. Midiam. Of course, saving people is a beautiful thing. But to be taken advantage of by others because of that is nothing but foolishness. Do you think I’m being harsh?”

“I don’t understand the principle.”

Midiam still found it hard to understand Azadin.

‘Sometimes he helps out generously for free, and other times he’s so calculating.’

Azadin knew well why she was confused. She was a teenager, so she was easily influenced by others. Besides, she was a proud member of the Etar clan, so it was natural for her to be obsessed with pride and aesthetics.

“Midiam. Thank you for understanding my aesthetics. But those who pursue aesthetics must be wary of that aesthetic being used and defiled by others. In that sense, let me tell you why I’m not trying to help recklessly here. First, look around. There are many refugees, right?”

“Yes.”

“How many horses, cows, donkeys, and carts are there? Compared to the people?”

“Hmm. A few.”

“That means a significant number of the refugees here escaped on foot. Whatever disaster happened, it was an environment where they could escape on foot. It’s safe to assume that, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, the possibility of innocent people being trapped in the fog is low. They could have easily escaped on foot.”

“But wouldn’t the wife of that Lord Brock or whatever be there?”

“That man is a vassal who received a fief [a piece of land granted by a lord]. That knight and his wife and family must take responsibility for the fief. If Lord Brock’s wife was a cultist and contributed to causing this fog, then she is a perpetrator against the residents of the manor, not a victim. Lord Guillaume Valt is just saying he wants to help her because she’s an acquaintance. Our help isn’t that cheap.”

“Ah. I see. That’s what you meant. Indeed, now is not the time to waste time here. We need to hurry to Rantark, make that man the Count of Rantark, and get a clue about the Emperor’s treasury…”

Midiam also understood after listening to Azadin’s explanation. Even Sir Brand, in his brass knight state, agreed.

“Considering the duty of a knight, it’s only natural! If people were harmed because his wife fell into the hands of cultists, it cannot be called the duty of a knight.”

“And above all, now is the time to hurry. So, Lord Guillaume Valt, let’s move by detouring.”

It was then that Azadin said that.

“Hmm. You have some sense. Let’s go.”

Shati urged them on.

“……”

“Why?”

Shati asked, seeing the gazes directed at her, and Scott grumbled.

“You did well as an operative with that body.”

“What?”

“Hey. Look here. This was originally the location of the Naga’s Southeast branch. Maybe this is where Shati was supposed to deliver the New King’s Scripture when things went wrong in Salasma.”

“Y-you bastard! How dare you!”

“No, I was trying to keep your secret. But what can I do when you draw suspicion on yourself with such a sloppy act? For your information, I am an intelligent being, so I don’t like seeing even the most low-intelligence and foolish Naga being tortured. I’m saying this to skip the torture.”

If I hadn’t said it, Azadin would have tortured you while interrogating you. That’s what Scott was telling Shati.

“No, that can’t be.”

Shati, despite being Azadin’s prisoner, was somehow certain that Azadin wouldn’t torture her.

“U-anyway, can we trust this orc?”

“Tsk, your actions are already making my trust in you even stronger. You foolish Naga woman. But fine. I’ll show you the greatest oath of trust here.”

“What is it?”

Azadin asked out of curiosity.

‘Ah, if I ask this guy something like this, he’ll most likely say something absurd and make me angry, but I asked anyway.’

Azadin regretted giving in to his curiosity, but he couldn’t take back the words he had already spoken. Indeed…

“This is it.”

Scott spread his thumb and index finger and pretended to press his nose.

“What does that mean? That?”

“This is a hand signal that orcs use to guarantee their words. If what I said is wrong, you can call me a human hybrid. It’s a sign that says, ‘I’m a half-orc.'”

“……”

“Of course, everyone knows that there’s no chance that your low-intelligence human blood could be mixed with the blood of a super-genius orc like me.”

“Please be quiet. Why do you have to add unnecessary words and invite trouble?”

“Are you going to hit me? Hah, it seems that violence is the only means you have to oppose my intelligence. It can’t be helped. Humans are so barbaric.”

“Please just shut up.”

Azadin silenced Scott and looked at Guillaume Valt.

“Well, that’s how it is. Let’s help him.”

“W-what are you people?”

Guillaume Valt asked the question he should have asked a long time ago.

“As you can see. I am a member of the Messenger Clan. This one is a paladin of the King’s Church, this one is an operative of the Naga Empire, and this friend is…”

“A super-genius orc who always does his best for his employer.”

“……”

It was truly a bizarre and strange combination.

“Don’t look at me like that. I get hurt too.”

Azadin said that to Guillaume Valt and pointed to the knight named Lord Brock, who was drunk and distraught in front of the fog.

“Let’s ask him for guidance.”

*********

“Oh, Lord Brock. I’ve heard about the situation from the soldiers and others.”

“Yes? Th-that’s just a rumor.”

“Don’t be like that. Hmm. Uh. How should I put it. Well…”

Guillaume Valt couldn’t persuade Lord Brock and asked Azadin for help. Eventually, Azadin stepped in.

“Have you heard that Count Garnaher has gone missing in battle?”

“I’ve never heard of it. But if that’s the case…”

“Yes. Lord Guillaume Valt is the current acting count. That’s why he’s on his way to Rantark to urgently carry out his duties as acting count. But even if you don’t go to Rantark, you agree that Lord Guillaume Valt has the authority to decide all events in Rantark as acting count, right?”

“……”

‘This guy also knows that the guy named Adler is the real heir.’

Azadin noticed that fact from Brock’s lukewarm reaction.

‘Well, he’s a guy who received a fief at the center of the Emperor’s Road. The count must have placed him as someone he could trust, and if so, he would have been informed about the succession structure.’

Azadin noticed the situation and cleared his throat.

“I already know that the count designated Prince Adler as his successor and informed some of his vassals. But recently, a significant fact that overturns that has been discovered.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Do you know the real reason why your wife became a cultist?”

“…Ugh?!”

“Prince Adler was in close contact with cultists. Otherwise, how could cultists have approached the Saenopi Fortress on the Continental Road [a major trade route]?”

“?!”

Zibeck, who was listening, clicked his tongue.

‘I knew Azadin was good at lying, but this is something else…’

For Brock, who was about to lose everything and be burned at the stake because his wife became a cultist, it was an eye-popping story.

“Well, if you ignore that and side with Prince Adler, we’ll just detour and leave.”

“W-wait a minute. Are you saying that Prince Adler brought in the cultists?”

“Ahem.”

Azadin signaled to be careful not to let others hear.

“Well, if your spouse is a cultist, the husband is also strictly interrogated, and even if you survive this interrogation, you often end up crippled with torn ligaments and broken bones. You know that, right?”

“Ugh…”

“But our Lord Guillaume Valt has always thought highly of Lord Brock’s diligence. Lord Guillaume Valt is saddened that punishing a diligent and faithful person like Lord Brock just because he was too busy with his duties to notice his wife’s corruption is a self-harming act that would lose talent in Rantark.”

“Th-then…”

“While we investigate the inside and solve this case, we can also slightly manipulate the evidence to prevent harm from coming to Lord Brock. It’s not much of a substitute, but…”

“I-I pledge my loyalty!”

Lord Brock offered his sword to Guillaume Valt. It was an expression of his intention to regard Guillaume Valt as the Count of Rantark and support him.

“Lord Brock…”

Guillaume Valt’s eyes even welled up with tears as he looked at Lord Brock.

‘How much hatred did he grow up with to be so moved by this forced loyalty?’

Azadin was taken aback by Guillaume Valt’s reaction, and there was another person whose eyes were also turning red, and that was Sir Brand, the brass knight.

“Ah, such beautiful loyalty of knights.”

“……”

Where is the loyalty here? Azadin almost dragged him by the leash. If this is considered the aesthetics of chivalry, then he would be moved to tears by the dedication of a pig being dragged by a rope to the slaughterhouse.

“Then, Lord Brock, please guide us. Since there is magic in the fog itself, it seems that having many soldiers who are not familiar with magic would be useless, and we should at least have knights or priests.”

“There aren’t many such people. It seems I’ll have to jump in myself. But…”

“Don’t worry, we won’t carelessly reveal any mishaps that occur inside. If you become a vassal of Lord Guillaume Valt, we are in the same boat. Why would we welcome discord among allies?”

“……”

Zibeck, who was listening, chuckled. Since when was Azadin a vassal of Guillaume Valt to talk about being in the same boat?

But perhaps because of Brand’s tearful and joyful appearance? Brock completely trusted Azadin.