The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 166

Moreover, it weighed heavily on his heart that they found it strange for Azadin, an Aragasa, to care about the Hybrids.

“It seems you care about the people of Butuma, Azadin. When the Age of Jupiter arrives, people will die anyway. We are simply acting based on rationality.”

“You actively sacrifice people and feel nothing about it. That’s disgusting rationalism. Do you even realize that your so-called rationalism is actually irrational?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t ignore human emotions. Emotions can captivate people and draw out their full potential. If you dismiss and insult human emotions simply for the sake of being rational, their anger will always be watching your every step. You might be fine when things are going well, but if you stumble even on a small pebble, they will tear you apart like a pack of hungry wolves going for a bone. Where is the rationalism in that repulsive attitude? That’s not rationalism; it’s just rotten character, isn’t it?”

“That’s an interesting perspective.”

Arael was genuinely impressed by Azadin.

“You really aren’t like an Aragasa. Look, Azadin, Aldis and Kazas in the Council may care about you, but they have to be mindful of the other elders. And the ultimate decision-maker is Chief Hatir. You haven’t even spoken with Chief Hatir, have you? On the other hand, the ultimate decision-maker on our side is me. If I win in the fight against the Council, it will be more helpful for you to achieve your goals.”

Arael was still trying to persuade Azadin based on rationality.

“Do you think I’m interested in such power struggles?”

“Then you should be even more interested. You want to save the Hybrids, don’t you? If you want to save someone, you must have power. Even if you’re not interested in power struggles, you must force yourself to be interested, learn, study, and acquire power. Yes, if you have the ability and opportunity but don’t seize power and don’t do your best to protect people, then you are lazy.”

“That’s ridiculous, Arael. That might be true within your rationality. But that’s why I can’t tolerate someone like you.”

“Is that so?”

“I will prevent such a massacre from happening in Butuma.”

“This guy is really pushing it.”

“Arael, my lady. Even if we don’t kill him, shouldn’t we capture him? If we keep him locked up and release him after everything is over, wouldn’t he naturally be persuaded then? He’s just talking big because he hasn’t tasted bitterness yet.”

The four members of Hwajopungwol [a group of skilled warriors] were furious when Azadin said he would prevent what was about to happen in Butuma. However, Arael shook her head.

“No, leave him be. If Azadin tries to prevent what happened in Coral Sahar from happening in Butuma, he will inevitably clash with the Council, which is allied with the Naga Empire. He says he won’t side with me, but he will eventually clash with the Council. Isn’t that right?”

“…….”

“Let him clash with the Council first. Azadin, you can go.”

In the end, Arael had revealed their original plan and the Council’s next plan to Azadin.

“Hey, paladin. We’re letting him go alive.”

Indim threatened Jibeck, the one he had crossed swords with.

“You said you’re the four of Hwajopungwol?”

“Yes.”

“You must be Indim, the one who lives in a rented room?”

“?”

Jibeck deliberately called Indim that. For a moment, Indim didn’t understand the situation.

It seemed he couldn’t imagine that Jibeck, who always had a stern face and seemed the least likely to joke, would mock him.

“…….”

“You seem to be of high status in the Messenger Clan, but it’s not a good look to bark like a common street thug, unable to control your emotions. If you hold a position of responsibility in a clan, you should try to have some dignity.”

“You son of a bitch!”

“…Let’s go, Jibeck.”

Azadin once again intervened between Indim and Jibeck and declared their retreat.

Because Arael had decided to let Azadin go, Indim was left seething with anger at Jibeck’s mockery.

“Ah, right.”

Azadin, who was about to leave, suddenly turned around.

“What is it now?”

“What about the Blue Banner Gang? What will we do if they go on a rampage again?”

“Tell those who have become their minions not to gather in one place. Especially not in the swamps. And…”

Arael threw a vial to Azadin.

“If they go on a rampage, dip this lightly on an arrow and shoot them. It’s undiluted, so even a tiny bit will be effective.”

“What is this?”

“It’s the blood of the Shadow Shark King. Be careful, it’s undiluted.”

“…Did you drink it too?”

“No. I just have it. It’s evidence of the Council’s research into Nether magic.”

Arael said something meaningful and looked towards the waterfall.

*********

As Azadin left the Emperor’s treasury, he retrieved both keys to the treasury that were stuck outside the door.

-Rumble!

The treasury door began to close again.

“So, this is how it works.”

Azadin took the treasury keys.

“…Is it okay? Boss? Your sister…”

“Younger sister.”

“Your younger sister is trapped inside?”

When Scott asked, Azadin shrugged.

“There was a waterfall, wasn’t there? She’ll have no problem escaping from inside. Maybe there’s a one-way passage of some sort?”

“Is it okay to handle things so carelessly?”

Shati asked out of curiosity, but Azadin seemed quite confident.

“They said the Aragasa had already looted this treasury, so why would the keys be left outside? It’s designed so that those who go inside can’t take the keys carelessly. Perhaps the Emperor couldn’t imagine that he and his supporters would decline. He must have always intended to open and close the door in a situation where he completely controlled the power in this area and prevented enemies from even getting close.”

“But aren’t you going to fight your younger sister later, Boss? Your younger sister, she was kind of looking out for you. Even though she says everything in a nasty way.”

At that moment, everyone except Scott smiled wryly.

For Scott to say that Arael speaks in a nasty way? Anyone else, maybe, but Scott?

“It’s okay. There are Blue Banner Gang members and Coral Sahar refugees outside the Baron’s castle right now, and it’s not a good idea to let them meet Arael. Can’t you feel the commotion outside?”

“Not at all.”

“I can’t hear anything either.”

Even Shati, who had good hearing as a Naga [a serpentine humanoid], tilted her head.

“From the start, if I was going to be trapped because I took the keys, Arael would have taken some measures. She would have placed someone to guard the keys. The fact that she didn’t means it’s okay for me to take them.”

Azadin put the Emperor’s keys in his backpack and walked outside.

As Azadin had predicted, outside the Adirof Baron’s castle, the Blue Banner Gang shaman and those who had regained their senses were waiting for Azadin’s group.

To be precise, those who had lost their families and suddenly went berserk as minions, killing their own families, had turned into an angry mob. The Blue Banner Gang shaman and his supporters were pale and cowering like wet, tail-down dogs.

“Y-you’re safe. What happened? What about that woman?”

Everyone’s eyes were focused on Azadin’s group.

“Hey, shaman. Shall we talk for a bit?”

Azadin beckoned the Blue Banner Gang shaman.

“What is it?”

“It’s just that, according to that woman, your minions are supposed to go berserk if too many of them gather in one place. Especially if they gather in swamps or wetlands.”

“What?”

“Now, in the Age of Jupiter, when the power of the Nether is strong, it’s natural for the minions of the Grimslough of the swamp to go berserk if they gather in the swamp. It’s like the followers of the Death God gathering for a meeting. If that’s true, and if that fact is made public, then the rampage that happened today would be the responsibility of the Blue Banner Gang for irresponsibly distributing the elixir to people. What do you think?”

There was nothing to think about. The angry people were already gathering, and if it was revealed that the accident was due to the Blue Banner Gang’s mistake, they would tear the Blue Banner Gang shaman apart alive.

“T-that’s not true. It’s a ridiculous slander. That woman must have used some trick.”

“First of all, is it true that this Nether entity is called the Grimslough of the old swamp trees?”

“…Y-yes, it is.”

“Then did that woman feed you something or cast a spell on you?”

“I’m not sure about that. Ugh, maybe she put something in the food?”

The Blue Banner Gang shaman insisted that everything was Arael’s fault. From his perspective, it was natural for him to want to believe that.

“Haa. Pathetic. Anyway, the woman is locked up inside. Tell the people that she’ll starve to death inside without food.”

“What? But if you say that without any confirmation, will people believe it? People will only be convinced if there’s a corpse.”

“You were going to convince people that it was that woman’s doing while we were gone anyway, weren’t you? You can’t take back those words now, and are you going to try to capture that woman yourself? Let me tell you, that woman is a real powerful god-slayer. Even if everyone here attacked her, she’d kill about half of them and get away easily. Are you prepared to see that?”

“N-no… that’s…”

He had already been subdued by Arael and her subordinates without being able to put up a fight. The Blue Banner Gang shaman already knew that it was impossible to subdue Arael and her group by force.

“It seems you’re in a difficult situation too. How about you leave this to me? I’ll sort it out without making you feel bad.”

“You?”

“Yes. Leave it to me. I’ll make sure you don’t get hurt.”

When Azadin consulted with the Blue Banner Gang shaman, Jibeck objected.

“They are a cult. No, they worship the Grimslough of the swamp, a Nether god? Since they worship such a monster, they’re not just a cult, they’re a heretical sect. If their actions caused this rampage, then everything is their responsibility, isn’t it? Besides, they’ve already looted people. It’s time for them to pay for their sins.”

“I think so too, Jibeck. But right now, there are people outside who could become a mob at any moment, and they’ve seen humans transform into minions, into monsters. If we undermine the authority of the Blue Banner Gang, which is the only group with any organization, people will become a mob and start killing each other. They’ll kill the Blue Banner Gang and then kill each other out of fear of the minions within them. Can you control that situation?”

“Ah.”

Jibeck also thought Azadin’s words were rational. To resolve the current situation peacefully, they had to support the Blue Banner Gang’s authority without undermining it.

“I’m ashamed. My thinking was short-sighted.”

“I don’t like these guys either. Okay, let’s do it. First, we need to peacefully disperse the people.”

Azadin walked out to the plaza in front of the Baron’s castle with the shaman.