The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 134

Azadin found Sion’s personality quite peculiar.

‘Are all the Etar bloodline members like this?’ he wondered.

‘I can see why they’d think the Wind Aleph [a powerful elemental spirit] should be causing the storm instead of the Flower Dimia… but saying that out loud would be ridiculous, wouldn’t it? Is this really the time to worry about that? It seems like their main base was raided, and they had to flee.’

Besides, hadn’t he seen Dimia at Count Rantaric’s castle afterward?

“Do you think she’s behind all of this?” Azadin asked.

“Yes. Because after that, numerous copies of the Divine King’s Scripture appeared. Flower Dimia and Jenice have been collecting them.”

“……”

As Scott had explained, it seemed that inflicting pain on people caused their screams and cries to manifest copies of the Divine King’s Scripture.

But were they really doing all this just to create copies of the Divine King’s Scripture?

‘No, but how are they keeping the rain coming down in the King’s city?’

Azadin decided to inquire about that.

“Do you know how they’re making it rain?”

“I don’t know the specifics. Actually, I left Coral Sahar when it first started raining…”

“Weren’t you the head of the Coral Sahar Merchant Guild?”

“Well, I am the head of the Coral Sahar Merchant Guild, but my uncle holds the real power. You know Elder Sebali Etar, right?”

“Ah. Is the Elder in the city then?”

When Azadin asked about the Elder’s whereabouts, Sion turned to Midiam.

“Midiam, can we really trust this guy? He’s Ara’el’s brother.”

“You can trust him.”

“Hey, you, the servant kid. What about you?”

“He’s not on Ara’el’s side. Well, I don’t know about later, but right now, he’s genuinely hostile to her.”

“Okay. If you say so, I’ll believe it.”

Sion puffed out his chest.

“Messenger Azadin, be grateful. I’m giving a low-ranking messenger like you a chance to achieve great merit.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m giving you the opportunity to join the operation to rescue Elder Sebali. It’s to help the Etar bloodline. It’s an incredible honor for you and your servants… um?”

Sion’s gaze stopped on Jibek as he spoke.

“There’s a friend over there wearing the attire of a paladin of the King’s Church.”

“I am Jibek of the King’s Church, the Scarab.”

“Ah…. What?!”

Sion was startled by those words.

“I-It’ll be okay. Probably.”

Midiam tried to calm Sion down.

“This one is an Orc necromancer.”

“Scott McGreen.”

“And this one is a Naga.”

“Why is everyone suddenly introducing themselves? I’m not doing it.”

Shati refused to introduce herself, but thanks to Midiam introducing Scott and Shati, the suspicious gazes that had been focused on Jibek, the paladin of the King’s Church, were dispersed.

“Why are these people here?”

“When the will is strong, allies are bound to appear.”

Azadin had no choice but to answer that way.

*********

Ismail, being from an Etar servant background, was already familiar with the servants that Sion Etar had brought with him.

After talking with them, he learned that Sion Etar had already fought Jenice once and lost, sacrificing many members of the Coral Sahar Merchant Guild to escape.

Despite that, Etar was still Etar. Sion Etar was accompanied by 20 servants.

“Originally, we were going to fight Ara’el’s followers near here. But if Midiam vouches for you, things are different.”

“I heard you were too scared to enter Coral Sahar?”

“No, that’s not true. I can’t tell you the details because it’s classified.”

“What kind of classified information is it?”

“I can’t tell you.”

Sion shook his head at Azadin’s question.

“Anyway, we’re going to rescue Elder Sebali, so what do you say? Are you coming?”

“…Of course. I’m going.”

“Good. Glory awaits us.”

Sion Etar was very excited.

“That makes me uneasy, you know?”

“Glory always comes after hardship. I won’t say this will be easy.”

Sion said that with a boastful tone.

*********

As they entered the Coral Sahar region, they could indeed feel the rain and wind blowing from afar.

The river had swollen and was overflowing its banks. In the distance, black clouds soared high into the sky like mythical giants, and lightning flashed, casting light and shadows across the prairie.

“Wow, what is that….”

“It’s still raining….”

The servants that Sion brought with him were terrified.

“It’ll still take three more days to get to Coral Sahar.”

“It’s been raining for two weeks straight.”

“What do we do?”

The imperial road built by the Emperor was also submerged in low-lying areas, making it difficult to access. They could go around, but with all the rain pouring down, it was hard to estimate how long it would take.

“It just so happens that there’s a boat nearby that we left for repairs.”

Sion pointed to a nearby shed.

“We can’t take many people. We’ll have to leave the horses and goats here, and we’ll have to leave some people behind.”

“We’ll have to pick the elite. We don’t know what’s going to happen inside, right?”

“That’s right.”

Sion said that and looked at his servants.

“Who will volunteer?”

“Wait a minute.”

Azadin stopped Sion.

“If we’re talking about the elite, my companions would be better.”

“Are they better than the Aragasas [Etar family servants]? Aren’t you underestimating the people of our Etar family too much? They may be servants, but there are many skilled people who are as good as messengers. That’s the power of the traditional Etar bloodline.”

“That’s not something the Etar family should be proud of, but rather something they should be ashamed of. It sounds like you’re blocking the path of such capable people.”

“If you’re born noble, it’s inevitable that followers will gather.”

“That sounds like a modified version of something I’ve heard before?”

“Actually, someone like you, who has no roots, should be moved just by facing me like this. But since Ara’el has proven her capabilities, your value as Ara’el’s brother has also increased.”

“I should be angry, but you’re so out of touch that I’m not even angry.”

Azadin was more dumbfounded than angry at Sion Etar’s harsh words.

“So why should I pick your companions?”

“If we take too many Aragasas, we’ll use up too many arrows. If we’re going by boat, we can’t take the horses or goats, and that’s a problem, isn’t it? Besides, we still need the Coral Sahar Merchant Guild. Your servants all have the status of members of the Merchant Guild, right? If they travel as merchants, Ara’el’s faction won’t touch them.”

“Ah?”

Sion seemed to understand Azadin’s words only then.

“That’s right. Okay. I’ll take your companions. They’re also eager to save my uncle. It seems the nobility of the Etar bloodline is widely known even outside of Aragas.”

‘There’s no way that’s true?’

Azadin thought that, but he didn’t say it out loud.

“Okay. By the way, you hid a boat here? Wouldn’t the soldiers or refugees have requisitioned it?”

“It’ll be there. I locked it with a magic lock. There’s no way my magic can be undone so easily.”

“Scott.”

“Yeah.”

When Scott stopped his wheelchair in front of the uphill path, Shati, unable to watch any longer, pushed the wheelchair from behind. As soon as Scott approached the shed, the chain clicked open, and the shed door opened by itself.

“Hmm. He’s an Orc after all.”

Perhaps because Orcs were known to be very intelligent and skilled in magic, Sion didn’t feel any damage to his pride even though Scott, an Orc, had undone the magic.

*********

The boat inside the shed was a small cargo ship, not very large. Considering that they had to carry food, water, and weapons, it was impossible for everyone to board.

“To have to enter Coral Sahar, where the storm is raging, with this…”

Sir Jibek felt uneasy.

The swollen river was very rough, perhaps because seawater was flowing back into it. Seeing the garbage created by the submerged village being swept away by the current, it was clear that if someone fell into such a place, their body would never be found.

“There’s no other choice because of the rain. We should be grateful that we even have this. Sir Jibek, you should take off your armor. The boat could capsize at any moment in this storm.”

“But over there.”

Some of Etar’s servants stepped forward.

“We want to volunteer to rescue the Elder. Sion, the branch manager, knows our skills, right?”

“Yes.”

“On the other hand, this messenger friend and his followers…”

“Shouldn’t a young friend like Ismail be left behind?”

“Lady Midiam is a noble person, so she shouldn’t be involved in such dangerous work.”

They opposed Azadin’s group joining for various reasons. It seemed they really wanted to take this opportunity to save the Elder and gain merit.

‘I thought Ara’el’s claims would be appealing to the servant lineage, but that’s not the case.’

Ara’el’s claim to change the system of Aragas, which was dominated by the five great bloodlines and other noble families, seemed like it would gain support from the subjugated class, but the people themselves seemed to see this opportunity as a chance to impress their master.

‘Well, conversely, it could be that the Etar bloodline is so wealthy that they think it’s better to be recognized by them.’

That’s what Azadin was thinking when it happened.

“So, I’m going to challenge you to a duel. Azadin.”

“Huh? Me?”

It seemed that the servants’ distrust had reached Azadin.

“I was spacing out, and the story has already progressed this far? Why are you challenging me to a duel?”

“Even if you didn’t betray the Council, you are the brother of the traitor Ara’el.”

“And, with all due respect, I’ve heard that your skills as a messenger are lacking.”

“I heard that Elder Kazas forced you into the position. What if you, who have barely secured your position, cause problems in the Elder’s rescue operation?”

“And if we defeat you, we might be able to take the messenger’s position, right?”

“…So, you’re challenging me, a messenger, while being a servant? With the messenger position on the line?”

Azadin asked the servants who were dissatisfied with him.

“That’s right.”

“Hmm. You know that if you challenge for the messenger position and lose, you’ll lose your right to life and death, right? That I can kill you and you can’t say anything?”

“Of course.”

“Are you all looking down on me too much?”

Azadin wasn’t angry at all. Rather, he thought it was a good sign.

‘I thought the rumors about my skills had spread after beating up so many people, but is it different by region and class? It would be good if I could use it.’

As he knew from the case of Calypso, who was careless and fell in one hit after underestimating Azadin’s skills, it was good for him if people were careless about him.

“Okay. Since we’re busy, let’s do it all at once.”

“Huh?”

“What do you mean by all at once….”

At that moment, Azadin made his move first.