The Shadowed Legacy Of The Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 128

Azadin was taken aback when he suddenly saw Araiel’s eyes light up. In that instant, Araiel’s kick struck Azadin.

Of course, Azadin blocked it… but Araiel’s shadow pierced through his defense.

‘What is this?!’

Azadin’s body floated into the air, hit the ceiling, bounced off, and collided with a painting hanging on the wall.

A large oil painting, likely depicting a glorious scene of the Lantaric Count’s family, was torn, and Azadin’s blood stained the painting.

“Ugh!”

Azadin realized that the broken frame of the painting had pierced his back. He was wearing leather armor, so it didn’t pierce deeply, but it was enough of an impact to tear his skin and cause blood to seep through the armor.

Such power in a single blow. An ordinary person wouldn’t have survived.

“Not bad, Azadin.”

Araiel flicked her dislocated wrist, and a black shadow extended from her sleeve, covering her wound.

Surprisingly, the wound healed instantly.

“No way!”

Shati screamed.

The way Araiel had just healed her wrist and fingers was an instantaneous healing, faster than the green magic regeneration Shati used.

To heal wounds at such a speed, a restoration-type healing magic that was thought to have disappeared after the light of the King’s Radiance weakened?

“Wow. I guess I can’t win just with a physical fight? I can’t beat you with just martial arts, Azadin.”

“…Kuh.”

“But either way, I won, right? Stop being stubborn and become my subordinate.”

“I’d rather die.”

“Is that so?”

At that moment, Araiel rushed at Azadin, grabbed his belt, and swung him around, throwing him against the opposite wall.

-Crash!

Azadin’s body crashed into a bookshelf on the other side, breaking a candlestick, before falling to the ground. Books tumbled down, covering Azadin.

“Ugh?!”

Then, as Araiel reached out her hand… darkness rose from the ground, trying to swallow Azadin.

Scott tried to save Azadin by making hand seals and casting a spell, but at that moment, Scott’s magic began to resonate.

“Ah?!”

Black magic raged in Scott’s hand, slashing across his cheek. The illusion of a human face was torn, and blood splattered from the orc’s face.

The power emanating from Araiel alone was enough to make the surrounding magic go wild.

‘This is bad!’

Everyone thought they were going to die, but then…

“Ah.”

Araiel sighed.

“I didn’t mean to do that, but it’s become a habit. I’ve broken the heads of those who were defiant or stood up to me so often that I’ve developed this habit.”

It was ridiculous, but it was probably sincere. Araiel was throwing Azadin around and then feeling sorry.

“You don’t understand, Azadin. I sincerely regret the past. I desperately want to undo the pain and suffering I caused you. That’s why I want to atone to you. I’ll give you the position next to me, wealth, fame, and beautiful women. My subordinates might not like it, but I’m serious.”

Azadin could tell that Araiel was sorry and wanted to improve their relationship.

However, the moment she promised wealth and fame, she was bound to be on a parallel line with Azadin. Ridiculously, these siblings, born on the same day, were on a parallel line of emotions, unable to understand or empathize with each other.

“The very way you say that is wrong. With your mindset, you’ll never understand what you did to me or how you can apologize to me.”

Azadin hated Araiel’s audacity.

Money, fame, position, and beautiful women.

To offer those things and expect an apology to be accepted was an outrageous act that still didn’t consider Azadin’s feelings.

Well, there might be humans who would be satisfied with that. How many beast-like creatures are there whose purpose in life is to gain wealth, fame, and beautiful women?

But Azadin was not such a being. The fact that she saw him as such was so disgusting that he couldn’t bear it.

“Do you think I’m doing this because I want your favors?”

“Hmph, you’re difficult, Azadin. Well, fine. I expected this much adversity. Our reconciliation shouldn’t be so easy.”

“Right. At least we agree on that.”

Azadin recovered from his injuries and stood up again. The impact was paralyzing his body, but he couldn’t just lie there.

Moreover, the four of the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon were ready to attack Azadin’s group. Aleph spoke to Araiel.

“That guy. He has the Divine King’s Scripture [a sacred text]. That naga [a serpent-like humanoid], one of his companions, is an individual who escaped from Salasmar.”

Seraph also did not hide her hostility towards Azadin and advised Araiel.

“Huh? You recognize me.”

Shati was flustered to see the herald clan members recognize her identity at first glance.

Judging by their demeanor, these four of the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon seemed to be high-ranking heralds… Seeing them recognize her made her feel a sense of pride, but also a greater sense of worry.

“W-wait a minute!”

Then, Midiam stepped forward.

“Azadin needs a copy of the Divine King’s Scripture! He’s trying to lift the curse of servitude with it, and if you try to take it away… surely you don’t want your brother to die from the curse of servitude, do you?”

“Midiam!”

Azadin was furious with Midiam.

“Are you begging Araiel for your life?! Why aren’t you thinking of fighting back?!”

“That’s…”

Then, Aleph, hearing Midiam’s words, instead advised Araiel.

“There’s even more reason to take the copy of the Divine King’s Scripture. Even though your brother doesn’t appreciate your grace right now, when the curse of servitude is imminent, he will beg for your mercy. Wouldn’t that be when a true reconciliation with your brother can be achieved?”

Azadin was enraged by those words. They were saying that he was fine now, but when his life was on the line, he would gratefully reconcile.

Would he ever reconcile like that, even if it meant death?

But then again, dying from the curse of servitude was too terrible… He wasn’t sure if he could be stubborn until the moment of death.

If a situation where his life was on the line came. Could he still bravely tell Araiel that he would rather die? Not just die, but die so horribly?

Perhaps he would eventually accept her reconciliation as she said.

If Araiel gave Azadin various rewards as promised, he might accept them, pretending to be defeated, and eventually become so immersed in the benefits that he would forgive Araiel’s past and accept the reconciliation she wanted.

‘Absolutely not!’

So, at least for now, he couldn’t accept it.

“I must resist while I can. Even if it means dying now!”

Azadin was prepared to resist at the cost of his life.

“No, it’s okay. We’ll leave the copy of the Divine King’s Scripture.”

Araiel took a step back.

“Araiel-nim?”

“If I take the copy of the Divine King’s Scripture by force, and then the elders release Azadin from the curse of servitude without conditions? The elders can make a show of releasing the curse they initiated, right? Azadin will distrust me even more.”

“But isn’t it true that you need the Divine King’s Scripture? Even if you leave it, you should only leave one copy and take the rest.”

“Do you think I’d mess things up just because I don’t have a few copies of the Divine King’s Scripture?”

There was a subtle anger in Araiel’s voice. Aleph, feeling that anger, trembled with fear, but it seemed he wouldn’t back down on the Azadin issue.

“It seems you’re worried that Azadin will become my second-in-command just because he’s my sibling and wield power as he pleases. What unnecessary worries.”

“An organization doesn’t need a second-in-command. All it needs are loyal limbs of the absolute ruler.”

“So, you’re saying you’re enough? I understand. The Azadin issue is over. But I won’t take the Divine King’s Scripture.”

“……”

“See, brother? The road ahead is rough. But you will eventually reconcile with me.”

“Because you’re stronger than me?”

“No. Because I love you.”

“Nonsense…”

The love Araiel spoke of was an intolerable form of self-righteousness.

Arbitrarily deciding Azadin’s fate, pushing him into a situation where he couldn’t refuse, and then urging him to reconcile was not reconciliation or forgiveness, but another form of violence.

“Then we’ll leave. Azadin. You guys must have things to do here, right?”

Araiel shook the key to the Emperor’s treasury.

“We’ll take this. Then.”

Araiel and the four of the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon left. Dimia of the Flower blew a kiss to Azadin through the air.

“See you again, young master.”

Araiel’s group jumped out of the window and disappeared in an instant. Azadin, shaking off the books, gestured to Shati. Shati frowned and grumbled.

“…Do you think of me as some kind of medicine box?”

“You’re much better than a medicine box.”

“Tch.”

Shati cast a regeneration spell on Azadin’s body.

“Is that your sister?”

Jibek asked Azadin.

“Yes.”

“Amazing. Did you see the aura she exudes? It’s like… she’s not human. When you said she was a goddess, I thought it was a joke… To receive the worship of people and make the light of the King’s Radiance her own. If she really is of the Emperor’s bloodline, it might be possible.”

Jibek coldly assessed the situation.

When a righteous king sits on the throne, the light of the King’s Radiance protects the world. That’s what the King’s Church says, but there are many interpretations of who a righteous king is.

Although the church tries to deny it, when Emperor Yaeslat alone monopolized all eight thrones, the light of the King’s Radiance was shining very brightly.

If Araiel, as a descendant of the Emperor, were to take the throne and the light of the King’s Radiance recognized her… what would the King’s Church do?

‘They would have to acknowledge her as their ruler and accept her.’

Of course, she was collecting copies of the Divine King’s Scripture, so they could claim that she was interpreting the copies to understand the essence of the light of the King’s Radiance and using a trick to manipulate it.

But… if the Age of Jupiter was really approaching and monsters were swarming all over the world, the people would be enthusiastic about Araiel, who brought them peace, whether it was a trick or not.

And that would be the birth of a new goddess.

“But if you’re twins, are you also of the Emperor’s bloodline?”

“Probably. But I wasn’t born with any benefits like Araiel. Ugh… it’s itchy.”

Azadin shuddered at the itchiness he felt in his body.

“No, wait a minute. Isn’t this not the time to discuss that?”

At that moment, Ismail started to make a fuss.

“We’ve lost the Emperor’s key, what do we do? If this continues, the Emperor’s treasury will be in their hands…”

“It’s okay.”

Brand said.

“If having the key meant you could open the door, why wouldn’t Count Lantaric have opened it?”

“Sir Brand?”

Guillaume Balte realized that Brand had regained his senses.