The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 152

‘But he’s strong… No, how can he be this strong? Even considering that I’m not in perfect condition. Could I even beat him if I were in perfect condition?’

Dimia reluctantly cast a spell to restore Krasley’s twisted knee.

“Ugh.”

Thanks to the overflowing white mana, Krasley’s body was completely healed. Since Azadin had warned him, Krasley couldn’t get up and was just watching Azadin’s reaction.

“Who told you to heal him completely?”

“No, it’s not like I could help it. Azadin. I’m not that skilled with white mana either.”

“Come to think of it, how do you even handle white magic? You shouldn’t have a grimoire, right?”

“Arael gave it to me.”

“Arael did?”

“Yeah. She gave it to me after interpreting a part of the Divine King’s Scripture. Isn’t it amazing? If we gather all the copies of the Divine King’s Scripture, Arael will release us from the curse.”

“Hmm. So that’s why everyone is so devoted to Arael.”

Azadin was inwardly surprised. Just by interpreting a part of the Divine King’s Scripture that the Arael faction had obtained, she was able to use such healing magic.

If all the copies were gathered, wouldn’t that mean Arael would master the Divine King’s Scripture?

He now understood why even the proud members of the Etar bloodline supported Arael.

‘Am I really going to be the only traitor? Is this okay?’

But Azadin changed his mind.

‘No matter what, I can’t justify summoning the Nether’s envoy and massacring the Hybrids. If you have that kind of power, you should just gather the copies of the Divine King’s Scripture, right? Why are you doing this meaningless slaughter?’

Azadin asked Jibek.

“Sir Jibek, choke Krasley until he’s unconscious.”

“Huh? Um… okay.”

Jibek was taken aback. In his eyes, Krasley was by no means an easy opponent. And he was being told to choke such an opponent until he was unconscious?

“Don’t kill him.”

“……”

As Jibek approached Krasley, Krasley was unsure whether to resist or not. When Jibek and Krasley’s eyes met, Dimia nodded at Krasley.

“Damn it. What an embarrassing situation.”

Krasley did not resist Jibek’s hand choking his neck and simply fainted.

“Then let’s go back to the surface. Leave Krasley here, and Dimia, I’m going to tie your hands and feet.”

“…Okay.”

Dimia grumbled as Azadin tightly bound her hands and feet.

“My blood isn’t circulating. Aren’t you tying me too tightly?”

“If I tie you loosely, you’ll just break free, right?”

“By the way, Azadin, when did you get so strong? I knew you had mastered the Kazas Haze [a type of martial art], but were you this strong? Won’t you tell this older sister your secret?”

“It’s about thoroughly reviewing what you’ve learned, and taking care of your rest and nutrition.”

“……”

What Azadin said was the same answer Dimia used to give when the young boys and girls of Azadin’s squad asked her when they were children.

Azadin tightly bound Dimia’s limbs and hoisted her onto his back.

“Then let’s go back to the surface. I can’t let Arael handle the disaster she caused and act like a savior.”

‘He’s quite something.’

Dimia, the Flower [a title given to powerful female warriors], was inwardly impressed as she was carried through the underground passage by Azadin.

‘Handling the disaster Arael caused and acting like a savior.’

He had accurately seen through the Arael faction’s plan.

The Arael faction had already made an alliance with the Nagas [a race of serpent-like beings], promising to scatter the Light of Kingship for them and summon the Nether’s envoys in exchange for providing the already interpreted copies of the Divine King’s Scripture.

To this end, the sea serpent Nagas were preparing to summon the Nether’s envoys through a massive number of human sacrifices and had mobilized their army to invade Coral Sahar.

The sacrifices the Nagas had made to mobilize this storm, army, and everything else would be enormous.

By using the Nagas as scapegoats to threaten Coral Sahar, and once the Nether’s envoy descended, Arael would sit on the throne of Coral Sahar and use that power to repel the Nether’s envoy.

By declaring to the world that Arael, as a descendant of the Emperor, was the rightful owner of the throne, she would undermine the authority of the King’s Church and proclaim that the Herald Clan was no longer a persecuted group but the savior who would overcome the coming destruction, the Age of Jupiter.

That was the Arael faction’s plan.

‘The Heralds do learn about politics and military strategy, but this guy is smart. Is it because he’s Arael’s twin? Come to think of it, it’s said that those born under the curse of service become the most talented Heralds. Until now, I thought Arael was the only one who benefited from that curse, but it turns out this guy might be too?’

Dimia was impressed by Azadin’s intelligence.

*********

After swimming through the flooded section, they found the Herald Clan’s servants waiting outside.

“Huh?”

“Lady Dimia?!”

They were bewildered to see Azadin had tied Dimia’s hands and feet with ropes, making her look like livestock being sold at a market.

“Ah. Everyone, calm down. It’s because of a failed magic ritual. Right?”

“…Yeah.”

Dimia had no choice but to nod.

The servants looked suspicious, but Dimia hugged Azadin and pretended to be friendly, saying,

“He’s Arael’s younger brother. Trust him.”

“Huh?”

Those who were watching were startled, but Azadin calmly spoke to the Herald Clan’s servants.

“So, how are the Nether’s envoys doing?”

“It’s a complete mess right now. Some of the sea serpent Nagas are turning into the Nether’s minions… It seems even the Nagas can’t control them.”

“The captured people are dying. The crazed Nagas are eating people.”

“The gates are under constant attack, and the Holy Knights’ white magic is weakening, so they’re being pushed back a lot.”

“I see? And Arael?”

“We don’t know about Lady Arael either…”

“She said she would appear when needed, so I think she’s nearby, but I’m not sure.”

“Is that so? I understand. Then I’ll head to the royal palace.”

“Yes. What should we do?”

“It’ll be a headache if they push too far, so help fight the Nagas. We were only allies up to this point anyway, right?”

“Yes. Understood.”

The servants nodded to Azadin and were about to leave.

“Ah, wait a moment. Before that.”

“Yes.”

“Some arrows.”

Azadin didn’t forget to resupply his arrows.

*********

Every time lightning flashed, a huge shadow was cast over the sea. Now, even those without any particular magical talent could see the Nether’s envoy, that shadow.

“Eek!”

“T-The Age of Jupiter!”

“Good heavens. Gods have mercy.”

“Eek… D-Don’t look. If we look at them, they’ll look at us!”

People trembled at the mere sight of the Nether’s envoy, that shadow.

Although it had not yet directly intervened in the mortal realm, the shadow of the giant, half-submerged in the sea and towering higher than a lighthouse, was enough to make people lose their will to fight.

“Ugh. I’ll abandon the false gods I’ve followed until now. Nether’s god, if you tell me your name, I will devote myself to you!”

Some even abandoned their faith in the Yaegas gods [the main gods of this world] and begged for mercy from the Nether’s god.

“You madmen! What are you doing! Get out of the way!”

The non-commissioned officers kicked the crazed people and began reinforcing the doors and entrances with wooden furniture.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Azadin praised their efforts and walked in confidently.

“Ugh? Who are you?”

“I am Azadin, the 108th Herald of the Emperor! Emperor Ansetus IV himself has given me orders, so clear the way.”

“……”

“Do you know what this is?”

Azadin showed them the necklace he had received from Ansetus IV, the necklace of underwater breathing.

“Hmm. It’s real.”

The commander, recognizing that it was the necklace the king usually wore, was bewildered.

“Tch! This is what happens when you join hands with the Herald Clan!”

“Ah. Are you criticizing the King right now?”

Azadin asked, looking at one of the grumbling non-commissioned officers.

“I get it, so go in! Damn it. We’re all going to die! What is this because of the stupid king!”

“A stupid king, you say. You change your object of worship so easily when things get difficult.”

“Yeah. Say whatever you want. If we’re still alive tomorrow, we’ll gladly accept any punishment!”

The non-commissioned officer grumbled and moved to his assigned position, gathering his weapons.

Although his words were harsh, he was fulfilling his duty.

“Hmm…”

Azadin watched him and then headed towards the royal palace.

*********

-Whoooaaaaar!

The giant behemoth visible from the sea beyond the storm roared.

At the same time, huge boulders fell from the sky like volcanic bombs.

They fell all over Coral Sahar, creating huge pillars of water in the flooded areas, and some crashed into buildings, spires, and stone walls, exploding upon impact.

Those that landed safely without exploding unfolded their curled bodies, and with their multi-jointed bodies and countless tentacles, they stepped onto the ground, turned around, and began to move.

“Eek!”

“Ugh!”

While the soldiers were terrified by the monsters falling from the sky, the crazed Nagas willingly approached the round monsters and offered their bodies.

When the round, pill bug-like monster opened its mouth, a sharp, dagger-like mouth as thick as a human arm appeared. The pill bug monster used it to pierce the back of the Naga’s head, sucking out its brain fluid, and then attached itself to the Naga’s body.

The sea serpent Naga’s eyes rolled back, and foam spewed from its mouth… Soon, the two became one, and a dark, murky poison began to flow from their entire body.

“W-What is that!”

“Damn it! Fire!”

The soldiers fired bolts at the mutated Naga from the ramparts with heavy crossbows. However, the Naga bent forward, using the chitin of the Nether monster attached to its back to block the iron bolts.

-Ting!

Surprisingly, a metallic sound rang out, and the iron bolts bounced off.

“Huh?”

“N-No way!”

The power of a heavy crossbow was enough to easily pierce a Naga. But the heavy crossbow bolts were slipping off. Not all of them, those that hit directly pierced through, but those with poor angles of incidence slipped off.

“Good heavens!”

“Get a grip! Keep firing! Pike soldiers! Block their approach!”

Under the orders of the non-commissioned officers, soldiers with spears stepped forward, and the crossbowmen immediately reloaded their crossbows.

The desperate battle between the mutated sea serpent Nagas, combined with the Nether’s presence, and the soldiers began to unfold in the storm.

*********

Emperor Ansetus IV sat on the Yaegas gods’ throne, the Quartz Throne, with his eyes closed.

Lightning flashed outside the window, followed by thunder. In the lightning that clearly illuminated the earth, his face was as stiff as a statue.

-Gwoooaaaaaaar!

The roar of a huge monster was faintly heard in the storm.

And something poured down from the sky. The giant behemoth in the storm was spewing something from its mouth, and it was carried by the wind and fell all over Coral Sahar.

Some of it hit the spire of the royal palace, causing the spire to shake, and the vibration was transmitted to the throne room of the royal palace.