The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 132

The usual route from Rantark to Coral Sahar, the capital of the Corasar Kingdom, was by boat. This was because Coral Sahar was a beautiful city situated on the delta where the Cora River met the sea, a city that had amassed immense wealth through maritime trade.

However, due to the ongoing drought, the water level of the Cora River had dropped significantly. Boats were now slowly navigating the center of the river, where the water was still somewhat deep, leaving no room to take on passengers.

“Looks like we’ll have to go by land. Any help?” Azadin asked the peddler’s guild at the Rantark branch.

However, they refused to assist Azadin, even with such a minor request.

“Well, wouldn’t it cause problems if we openly helped you?”

“So, you’re saying we have to go on our own. That’s a big problem. We have a big eater on our side.”

With Scott as their companion, Azadin’s group was experiencing a severe food shortage. In the past, it wouldn’t have been such a significant issue, but due to the drought in Salasma and the war in Rantark, food prices had skyrocketed, and the political situation was unstable everywhere.

With the Light of Kingship [a divine power that protects the kingdom] weakening, monsters swarming in various places, and the Nether’s presence [a dark, chaotic realm] encroaching upon the mortal world, the help of the peddler’s guild, which could provide a stable supply of food and goods, was desperately needed.

“Still, we can’t help you. Araiel’s brother. At least not on the way to Coral Sahar.”

“Why not?”

“Because the forces of the Elder Council remain in Coral Sahar, and the five families of the peddler’s guild’s upper echelons, especially the high-ranking members of the Etar bloodline, control the Coral Sahar region.”

Their attitude was so firm that there was no point in expecting anything from them.

‘It used to be a well-functioning organization, but it had an unexpected weakness.’ When the Messenger Clan was united, the merchant and messenger organizations would check each other but also help each other, and everything worked well. However, when factions within the Messenger Clan split and started fighting, most of the clan’s functions were paralyzed.

‘Calypso is wise. In times like these, it’s better to step back and observe. However, since I’m related to Araiel, they won’t just leave me alone even if I’m observing.’ In the current situation, rather than carrying out the Emperor’s messenger duties, it would be better to wait for the situation to settle down like Calypso, or actively participate in the political strife by joining Araiel’s faction or the Elder Council.

However, since Azadin was Araiel’s brother, he couldn’t stall for time like Calypso. He had no choice but to ask for something else.

“Then, at least tell me about the movements of the Arbiter Zekt and warn me to be careful. That holy knight is strange. He’s using the power of the Nether.”

“Understood. Holy knights are always a target of vigilance.”

“Then.”

Azadin left the peddler’s guild and returned to his companions. On the way back, Ismail said something.

“You must be happy that your sister has become so great.”

“What do you mean?”

“Doesn’t she say she’ll use you greatly? Even when you resist her, she doesn’t try to kill you. Why don’t you surrender to her?”

“You really hate me, don’t you?”

“Why would I like you?”

“But a sensible subordinate wouldn’t openly show hostility to their superior messenger. You’re quite lacking in the art of getting along. Of course, it doesn’t seem like you’re only like that with me.”

Azadin recalled Ismail, who had fearlessly confronted Araiel and the Four of Hwajopungwol [a powerful group of warriors].

‘Maybe this guy is… that. Poor guy.’ Azadin roughly figured out Ismail’s identity. Considering his identity, it was understandable that Ismail was so sharp and snappish with everyone.

“What is that look?”

“Ah, no. I was just thinking you’ve had a hard time at a young age.”

“Huh?” Ismail, after being snappish, looked displeased when Azadin didn’t take him seriously.

“Let’s go back and prepare to leave Rantark. There’s no good reason to stay here long.” Since Araiel had appeared in Rantark Castle, it was dangerous to stay here long. Thinking so, Azadin prepared to leave Rantark as soon as he returned.

However, just as Azadin’s group was about to leave, someone called out to them from behind.

“Hey. Azadin!”

“Calypso?”

“Wait a minute. Don’t go to Coral Sahar! It’s a disaster!”

“A disaster? What happened?”

“News just came in that Coral Sahar is under attack!”

“By what?”

“That is….”

*********

The King of Corasar was Ansetus IV, a genius who, in his youth, was intelligent and outstanding, defeating all his rivals to seize the throne. One of those who was ousted and failed to gain the throne was Kazel, the Count of Salasma.

However, after becoming king, he indulged in pleasure, neglecting the borders and never leaving his palace. After defeating his formidable rivals and securing his royal authority, he abandoned his ambition as if it were a lie and became a hedonist, captivated by luxury and pleasure.

However, Ansetus IV was now holding a political affairs meeting, sitting on the throne with an energetic attitude for the first time in a long time. This was because thunder was crashing and rain and wind were raging outside the window.

It was not uncommon for typhoons to occur in the summer in Corasar. However, it was rare for a typhoon to remain stationary and continue to pour rain and wind for a whole week, causing serious damage.

“The docks have been destroyed by the rising sea, and the lowlands and riverbanks have been flooded by backflow. Seawater is flowing upstream, and those currently engaged in rescue operations have been working in three shifts for a week without rest, and there are no more people who can endure it.”

When a typhoon hit Coral Sahar and the nearby lowlands began to flood, King Ansetus, who had been neglecting his duties, could not remain idle and had to attend to state affairs.

His first priority was to mobilize the navy. The navy used small boats instead of ships anchored by the storm to rescue people from the flooded lowlands and evacuate them to higher ground.

So far, things were going well, but the problem was that the rain continued to fall more than they had expected.

“Landslides have occurred in the highlands, and the camps for the refugees have been swept away by the landslides.”

“Rescue the refugees….”

“They are already completely exhausted.”

“After working people in three shifts for a week without rest… many are dying from overwork or fainting and falling into the river.”

The soldiers were already exhausted from the process of rescuing and evacuating people. Moreover, the problem was that they had believed the rain would stop soon and had evacuated people to higher ground. As the rain continued to pour without stopping, the highlands were swept away by landslides, and to rescue the refugees swept away by the landslides, they had to deploy manpower twice over.

“We need to move the other refugees. If there are not enough people, bring people from other regions.”

“That is… the national treasury is running dry.”

“How much money is left in the national treasury?”

“About 2,000 lyang of silver.”

The lyang was a unit of weight used by the dwarves, and 2,000 lyang of silver was a huge sum that ordinary people could not imagine. However, Corasar’s peak revenue was about 120,000 lyang. Even now, they were collecting an annual revenue of 60,000 lyang. The principle was to save funds during peacetime to prepare for war or famine, so there should have been more money in the treasury than this.

But the treasury was empty even though nothing special had happened.

“I’ve been playing too much since I became king. How many thieves have laid their hands on the national treasury?”

“……”

“The people must be angry with me. Right?” King Ansetus asked his vassals directly. The vassals had complicated expressions.

‘Because he’s not a rightful king, the Light of Kingship is weak, causing a drought in Salasma and a typhoon in Coral Sahar!’ They couldn’t say that out loud. Even if he was a negligent king, he was still the king, and the vassals were the vassals. Wasn’t it the current vassals who had plundered the national treasury when the king’s watch was lax?

“W-well, that is….”

“I won’t interrogate you, so please hand over what you have.”

“……”

“So, assuming that funds and manpower are replenished, can we solve the problem by evacuating the refugees far away?”

“There’s also a disturbing rumor going around.”

“What rumor?”

“People say that strange fish-men appear at night and harm people.”

“Hey! That’s clearly a rumor. Our Royal Navy has investigated, and there have been no casualties caused by fish-men yet! Most of them are accidents or deaths from overwork.” Duke Dixion, the admiral of the Corasar Navy, said with a shudder.

“Use the navy to evacuate the victims and buy food from the merchants. Thoroughly avoid landslide areas and create refugee camps only in safe places.” In the end, the king could only make general statements.

*********

Calypso said in a fuss.

“Coral Sahar is completely ruined right now. That news just came in recently.”

“…I don’t understand.” Azadin tilted his head at Calypso’s words. The Messenger Clan not only walked around and delivered messages verbally, but they also had an artificial spirit called the Emperor’s Voice, and even if they didn’t, they used various magics to transmit information. However, if the typhoon had continued for two weeks and Coral Sahar had been flooded, that fact should have been known long ago. Even if the Messenger Clan was divided into Araiel’s faction and the Elder Council faction and fighting, it was impossible for such important information not to be known.

“They say that typhoon is magical.”

“A magical typhoon? Who was the messenger in charge of Coral Sahar?”

“Zenith, the 24th messenger in the hierarchy. The younger sister of Dimia of the Flowers [a group of powerful mages].”

“……”

“So, are you going, Azadin? Why don’t you just rest here and reconcile with Araiel? While you’re at it, maybe I could get a good position… Actually, I’ve admired Araiel for a long time. Araiel is still single, right? She doesn’t have a fiancé, does she?”

“Oh, seriously. Enough. I’m going!” Azadin waved his hand as if shooing away a fly and went out of the gates of Rantark.

As Azadin’s group set out for Coral Sahar, they saw quite a few people with tired eyes coming from the west. Merchants who had headed to Coral Sahar and failed were coming back. They shouted to the people they met on the road.

“Don’t go to Coral Sahar!”

“The king has issued a requisition order!”

“They’re taking all the food and cargo and giving out promissory notes!”

“Promissory notes that disappear when they get wet! I don’t know where they got such thin paper! They’re so resourceful!”

Usually, when a war breaks out and goods are requisitioned and promissory notes are issued, they are written on relatively sturdy materials such as cloth or parchment. Writing them on paper, especially thin paper, meant that those who issued the promissory notes had no intention of paying back the money.

The faith of the King’s Church demands absolute loyalty to the king and nobles, but its foundation is the Light of Kingship, which protects the world from disasters and monsters. In other words, if disasters are rampant and monsters appear, it means that the current king is not a rightful king.